Vancouver: Police say a Vancouver Police constable has been hospitalized with serious injuries after his patrol car was struck by a group of joy-riding teens on Monday early morning.
Police say the officer and his colleague were responding to an unrelated 911 call when they were struck by the car, which then caught fire.
Investigators believe the 16-year-old driver had been doing donuts – a reckless manoeuvre that involves turning a car’s wheels while accelerating in order to create a circular skid pattern – before colliding with the officers’ unmarked police car.
In a statement, Vancouver Police Department’s media relations officer Sergeant Steve Addison says while the driver and his two teenaged passengers were uninjured, one police officer could miss months of work while he recovers. He says the second officer had less serious injuries and is recovering at home.
Vancouver Police say the driver was arrested at the collision scene and is facing numerous charges, including driving without a license and dangerous driving.