18-year-old arrested for DWI after crashing into Dallas police sergeant
Drunk teenager accused of crashing into DPD car
An 18-year-old was arrested for DWI after running a flashing red light and crashing into a Dallas police squad car. This is the second North Texas officer hit by an intoxicated driver in less than a week.
DALLAS - An 18-year-old was arrested for DWI after running a flashing red light and crashing into a Dallas police squad car.
This is the second North Texas officer hit by an intoxicated driver in less than a week.
A state law enforcement association says it is a pervasive problem.
What we know:
The crash happened Monday just before 3 a.m. at Cedar Springs Road and Manor Way, near Dallas Love Field Airport.
A Dallas police sergeant was driving north on Cedar Springs Road during a routine call when a Chevy Camaro heading east on Manor Way ran the light and hit his squad car.
The squad car veered off the road onto a grassy area, while the Camaro struck a utility pole.
Francisco Sanchez-Alfaro (Dallas County Jail)
A man and a woman were in the Camaro, but neither was injured.
The driver was identified as 18-year-old Fransico Sanchez-Alfaro and is charged with driving while intoxicated.
Sanchez-Alfaro is being held in the Dallas County Jail without bond on an immigration hold.
Police say the sergeant was not hurt but was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Driver arrested after crashing into Dalla police car
A Dallas police sergeant is in the hospital after an early morning crash Monday. The driver who hit him was arrested for DWI and will be booked into jail.
What we don't know:
Dallas police said the sergeant’s name will not be released.
The woman in the Camaro was not identified. At this point, she is not facing any charges.
Dig deeper:
In less than a week, two area police officers’ lives have been threatened by suspected drunk drivers.
Rowlett Police Officer Isaac Gorskikh was hit from behind while assisting another department working an accident along I-30 and Dalrock Road.
Rowlett officer speaks about dramatic rescue
A Rowlett police officer is speaking out about his effort to help save a suspected drunk driver who had just hit him.
The car that slammed into Gorskikh's squad car caught fire. The dazed officer cleared his head and used his elbow to break the driver's side window and save the person who crashed into him.
The driver saved from the fiery wreckage that he caused was arrested for DWI.
Big picture view:
The Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas says DWI crashes involving police officers happen too frequently.
"Drunk driving is one of the most dangerous parts of law enforcement’s job out there as they're working collisions, as they're making traffic stops," said CLEAT Deputy Executive Director Jennifer Szimanski.
Texas ranks third nationwide in alcohol-related crashes.
With spring break this week for many and Saint Patrick's Day parties this weekend, the Texas Department of Transportation is kicking off a new campaign called "Drive Sober, No Regrets."
"Drunk driving is 100% preventable," said Madison Schein with TxDOT. "The purpose of that is to have everyone aware of what they're doing and the decisions they're making and to then have a decrease in our DUI alcohol-related traffic incidents."
The Source: Information in this article comes Dallas police at the scene of the crash.