On July 24, 2014, at approximately 9:35 a.m., Champaign police officers responded to the intersection of Mattis Avenue and Bloomington Road for a report of an accident involving a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and a Champaign Police Department squad car.
Witnesses reported seeing a pickup truck drive westbound on Bloomington Road and collide with the squad car as it approached the intersection at Mattis Avenue. At the time of the accident, the officer was actively responding to a call for service, with squad car lights and sirens activated. Preliminary information also indicates that once both vehicles had stopped, the involved officer exited the squad car to render aid to the female driver of the pickup truck.
One southbound lane of Mattis Avenue, just north of Bloomington Road, was blocked off as first responders responded to the scene. Bloomington Road was reopened at 10:30 AM. Both drivers were transported to local medical facilities for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. No citations have been issued at this time.
The Department reminding motorists to property yield to authorized emergency vehicles making use of audible and visual signals, in accordance with the Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-907.
(1) the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the highway clear of any intersection and shall, if necessary to permit the safe passage of the emergency vehicle, stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer and;
(2) the operator of every street car shall immediately stop such car clear of any intersection and keep it in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.