Sept. 28--An Albuquerque police officer suffered neck and back injuries, but is expected to be OK, after an SUV slammed into his cruiser Thursday morning.
Around 11 a.m., officer Frank Tillman was heading east on Central Avenue near Chama Street alongside a large tow truck when an SUV exited from the Cinnamon Tree Apartments and tried to get into a westbound lane, police said. The SUV's driver, a 55-year-old woman, told police she didn't see Tillman's car behind the tow truck when she tried to drive quickly across all three lanes of traffic and struck Tillman's vehicle on the passenger-side door.
Tillman's head struck the driver side window, and he was sent to University of New Mexico Hospital with head and neck injuries. A hospital spokesman said Tillman is in satisfactory condition.
Police said alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash, and the SUV's driver was cited for making an improper left turn.
Tillman was one of 21 officers credited in July 2010 for their quick response to the Emcore shootings, which left two people dead.
Copyright 2012 - Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
