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A Des Moines police officer was injured after an impaired driver struck his patrol car Tuesday evening.
At approximately 9:34 p.m., an officer was driving southbound on Southeast 14th Street. As he passed through the intersection of Watrous Avenue, his patrol car was struck by a 21-year-old, impaired driver who turned left while traveling northbound, according to a news release from the department.
The driver crashed into the side of the patrol car injuring the 24-year-old officer who has been with the Des Moines Police Department since 2023. The first watch officer, whose name was not released, is now recovering, the news release said.
The driver and the officer were transported to the hospital for minor injuries. The DMPD Traffic Unit charged the driver with three offenses, according to the news release: