Forest Acres police officer taken to hospital after car crash near police station

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that trapped a Forest Acres police officer inside of his car Sunday afternoon.

In a statement, the department reported that around 12:50 p.m. Sunday, Forest Acres dispatch received a 911 call reporting a collision between a Forest Acres Police Department Patrol Vehicle and white Volvo SUV. The collision took place near the intersection of Trenholm Road at Lakeview Circle, which is just down the street from the Forest Acres Police Department.

Both the driver of the SUV and the officer were injured. The officer was conscious but stuck inside his patrol vehicle, according to the department. Columbia Fire Department members extract the officer from the vehicle, who was transported to a nearby hospital.

“I have been at the hospital to see our officer and I am thankful to report his injuries are not life threatening. We will do what we can to support him as he recovers,” Forest Acres Police Chief Don Robinson said in the statement. He did not describe what caused the accident.

The driver of the SUV was “not seriously injured,” according the department.

This story was originally published January 15, 2024 at 11:00 AM.

Ted Clifford

The State

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Ted Clifford is the statewide accountability reporter at The State Newspaper. Formerly the crime and courts reporter, he has covered the Murdaugh saga, state and federal court, as well as criminal justice and public safety in the Midlands and across South Carolina. He is the recipient of the 2023 award for best beat reporting by the South Carolina Press Association.