A Louisville Metro Police Officer was surprised when his police cruiser was struck by a woman driving under the influence of alcohol while making a traffic stop on the side of the road. The car accident occurred on North Whittington Parkway and Shelbyville Road, in front of the University of Louisville's Shelby Campus around 10 p.m. Monday night.

According to news reports and Louisville Metro Police, the crash occurred when the officer's squad car was rear-ended by a suspected drunk driver. The officer had pulled over another vehicle for a traffic violation in the westbound lanes and was outside of his vehicle when it was hit from behind by a Ford Explorer SUV. The collision caused the police cruiser to be pushed into the other vehicle, causing injuries to the driver. According to news reports, the police vehicle had its emergency lights activated at the time of the accident.

Based on a news report on the crash by WHAS 11, the news crew saw beer cans being taken out of the SUV that caused the accident. A full investigation of the incident has been launched but it is believed that the driver of the SUV will be charged with DUI.

The police officer was not seriously injured in the crash, but all parties involved were taken to area hospitals to receive medical attention as a safety precaution. Reports detail that the driver of the SUV was taken into an ambulance on a stretcher with handcuffs on her wrists.

The names of those involved in this car accident have not been released to the public.

Source: Louisville Courier-Journal "SUV strikes police cruiser causing minor injuries" 08/16/2010