The details are still sketchy at this point, but one thing is for certain: A Pigeon Forge Police Department motorcycle officer suffered injuries in a crash over the weekend after a collision with a van. The motorcycle accident reportedly happened on Saturday afternoon near traffic light 1, on the portion of Sugar Hollow between the Cracker Barrel restaurant and the Wood Grill Buffet.
Witnesses told the Tennessee Highway Patrol that the officer was driving down the road on his motorcycle at about 3 p.m. when a minivan apparently pulled out in front of him as it made a left turn, colliding with his motorcycle. The officer apparently went over the handlebars and was injured.
The officer, who according to the Mountain Press is a longtime employee of the department, was conscious and well enough to summon help. He apparently called his department and told them he’d been in a crash. After the accident, the police chief said the officer’s condition was not known, but he was placed on a backboard and put in a back brace to help him recover.
He was conscious and talking at the hospital, where he was taken via ambulance shortly after the accident. An article on WATE TV’s website says that the officer’s injuries include abdomen and knee injuries. The motorcycle was apparently totaled in the crash.
An investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. It’s not clear if charges may be pending against the other driver.
Source: Mountain Press, “PF motorcycle officer hurt in Saturday wreck,” March 17, 2012