PORT ANGELES — A Clallam County Sheriff’s deputy was treated and released at Olympic Medical Center after a motorist collided with his patrol car early this morning, leaving the vehicle totalled.
Officer Mike Backes was treated for a sore wrist, Undersheriff Ron Peregrin said.
The two drivers were travelling west on Front Street near the city limit when the accident occurred.
Peregrin said he was unaware of any injuries to the female motorist who struck the patrol car.
The crash occurred between 4:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. near McDonald’s.
Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith did not have information on the female motorist this morning and said he doubted she had been arrested.
Information on if she was injured and an estimate of damage to her vehicle was unavailable this morning.
The city Police Department is investigating the collision.
Smith said the female driver pushed Backes’ vehicle into a light pole, totalling it and destroying a city wireless Internet access device attached to the pole.
“For whatever reason, the driver didn’t realize the [deputy’s] vehicle was in the lane,” Smith said.
“There’s a fair amount of property damage associated with the accident.”
Peregrin did not know the value of Backes’ patrol car.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.