MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis police officer was injured Friday night after a truck crashed into his patrol vehicle while he was responding to another accident on Interstate 55, according to the Memphis Police Department.
The crash happened Friday, Oct. 30, on southbound I-55 near Mallory Avenue.
According to an MPD traffic investigation report, officers with the department’s traffic investigation unit were assigned to investigate the crash around 10:22 p.m.
Investigators said the crash involved three vehicles: a 2006 GMC C7500 truck, a marked 2025 Ford Explorer police SUV and a 2027 Freightliner.
Police said the officer’s patrol SUV was parked facing southbound on I-55 while the officer was handling a separate crash.
The SUV’s emergency blue lights were activated at the time.
According to investigators, the GMC truck was traveling southbound when its driver changed lanes from behind the Freightliner.
The driver told investigators he did not see the parked police SUV until after changing lanes.
The GMC struck the left side of the patrol vehicle before hitting the right side of the Freightliner’s trailer, police said.
The officer suffered minor head injuries and was transported by Memphis Fire Department personnel to Methodist University Hospital in noncritical condition.
The patrol SUV sustained disabling damage and was removed from service.
Investigators reviewed footage from the police vehicle’s in-car camera, body-worn camera footage and video recorded by the Freightliner.
According to the report, video evidence showed there were no advance warning signs or vehicles positioned to alert approaching motorists about the crash ahead.
Investigators also noted that a Tennessee Department of Transportation assistance truck was parked to the right of the police SUV rather than behind it with its directional arrow board activated.
The report indicated that the truck driver’s visibility was obstructed by the Freightliner and another tractor-trailer traveling in the left lane as vehicles approached a curve in the interstate.
Police said the combination of obstructed visibility and the absence of advance warning measures contributed to the decision not to issue a citation.
No citations were issued in connection with the crash, according to MPD.
Authorities did not report any additional injuries.