Police: LRT Train Hits Maple Grove Squad In Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) – A Maple Grove police officer escaped serious injury when his squad car collided with a light-rail train in downtown Minneapolis.
Authorities say the suburban officer was on his way back from the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center around 1 a.m. Saturday. Metro Transit Police say the squad car was traveling alongside the train, turned right and collided with the train near Fifth Street and Fifth Avenue.
Authorities identified the officer as Jesse Mathwig and said he's been with the department for more than six years. Maple Grove Police Sgt. Kyle Larson says he complained of minor hip pain but was otherwise unhurt. Mathwig is the same officer who helped a man escape from a car fire on Highway 169 during Thursday morning's snow storm.
The patrol car sustained heavy damage, while there was minor damage to the train car. Nobody on the train was hurt and the accident did not delay transit operations.
Metro Transit Police continue to investigate. The operator of the train will be tested for drugs and alcohol, which is a standard procedure.
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