Jan. 17--A Salina Police Department canine unit was struck from behind while stopped for a traffic light Sunday, and although the dog was not hurt, the officer and another driver were treated at Salina Regional Health Center.
Officer Gary Hanus, 43, was treated in the emergency room for a possible back injury following the collision at 2:13 p.m. on Ohio Street near the Crawford Street intersection.
Wayne Nelson, 58, of Salina, another driver involved in the collision, refused emergency transport from the scene of the crash but received treatment at the Salina Regional emergency room Monday for injuries related to the Sunday crash.
Lt. Scott Siemsen, criminal investigation commander with the Salina Police Department, said the rear of the police vehicle was damaged, but the vehicle was still operable following the crash. He said the police dog that was in the back seat of the vehicle was not injured.
Siemsen said Hanus had stopped in traffic waiting for a red light, and Nelson's car was stopped behind him. A van driven by Amanda Merrick, 18, of Salina, struck Nelson's vehicle from behind, pushing it into the police car, Siemsen said. Merrick was cited for inattentive driving.
Merrick was not injured, according to the police report.
Copyright 2012 - The Salina Journal, Kan.
