Police cruiser strikes utility pole, causes busy Dothan intersection to close

DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) - A well-traveled Dothan intersection was closed for much of Tuesday following a crash involving a police cruiser.

Dothan Police Lieutenant Scott Owens informed News4 that the closure at West Main and Montana would cause delays and detours for several hours.

Officers diverted traffic between Pettus Street and Edgewood Drive or between Jack’s and McDonald’s.

The police cruiser struck a utility pole early Tuesday while responding to the report of a burglary in progress, with the officer hospitalized with what Owens described as non-life-threatening injuries.

“Emergency responses are inherently dangerous but necessary during the course of an officer’s tour of duty. The balance between catching a criminal and injuring an innocent person or ourselves is something we take very seriously,” said Dothan Police Chief Will Benny in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. “The investigation into what happened, why it happened and how we can prevent it in the future is underway.

“We would like to thank our fire personnel, ambulance personnel and hospital staff, nurses and doctors who treated our officer and to the electrical workers who responded to quickly repair the damage.”

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