Sept. 06--NEWPORT NEWS -- Police charged the driver of a vehicle that struck a Newport News police car on Wednesday night with reckless driving, a police spokeswoman said.
Marion Mason, 73, of Newport News was issued a summons for reckless driving in connection with the accident, said Holly McPherson, a spokeswoman for Newport News police.
Both Mason and the 28-year-old male officer were treated and released from the hospital, McPherson said.
The department is not releasing the name of the officer because it does not typically release the name of crime victims or those not at fault in accidents, McPherson explained.
EARLIER: Two people, including a Newport News police officer, were taken to the hospital Wednesday night after a car collided head-on with a patrol car in the Denbigh area, a police spokeswoman said.
The drivers complained of pain, but there were no visible signs of injury, said Holly McPherson, spokeswoman for Newport News Police Department.
A male police officer was making a left turn onto Beechmont Drive from Warwick Boulevard when a white car driven by an elderly woman traveling south on Warwick ran a red light and struck the patrol car, McPherson said. The officer then called in the wreck to dispatchers at 8:33 p.m.
"Both cars are totaled," said witness Christina Pittman over the phone.
Pittman, who also called 911, said the woman's car didn't appear to slow down or brake at all.
"The police officer's car almost did a complete 360," Pittman, 38, of Newport News said.
Additional details were not available Wednesday night. McPherson did not release the officer's name.
Copyright 2012 - Daily Press (Newport News, Va.)
