St. Cloud Police Officer OK After Being Hit Head on by a Suspected Drunk Driver

(KNSI) – A St. Cloud police officer suffered minor injuries after being hit head-on Sunday morning by a driver who had allegedly been drinking.

Police were called to a crash on the 3200 block of County Road 74 about 6:20. Investigators say one of the vehicles involved was a St. Cloud police car.

The officer was on routine patrol southbound on County Road 74 when he saw a minivan driving north in the southbound lane. The officer swerved into the northbound lane to avoid hitting the minivan, just as the driver tried to correct her position, and also swerved into the northbound lane, hitting the squad car head-on. There was extensive damage to both the squad car and the minivan. The officer got out of his car and checked on the other driver.

According to a press release, she was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. The officer was also taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released.

The minivan driver is a 20-year-old woman from Waite Park. Investigators say she was driving under the influence. Formal charges of felony criminal vehicular operation and misdemeanor fourth-degree DWI are pending.

KNSI does not typically name suspects until they have been formally charged.

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