Tampa Police Officer Injured In Collision With Bus, Car

TAMPA, FL — A Tampa police officer and two bus passengers were taken to hospitals Saturday morning after a three-vehicle crash involving a police cruiser, a public transit bus and a car caused the cruiser to overturn, authorities said.

The crash happened at North 34th Street and East Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard around 9 a.m., according to the Tampa Police Department.

The officer, a 12-year veteran of the department, suffered a cut to the head and was hospitalized for treatment. The officer was alone in the patrol car.

Two adult passengers aboard the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit bus were also taken to a hospital for precautionary medical evaluations. Police said no serious injuries were reported on the bus.

The driver of the third vehicle, a 2017 white Dodge Charger, suffered a minor leg injury and was treated and released at the scene.

According to preliminary findings, the police cruiser was traveling east on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard while the HART bus was heading south on North 34th Street. The Dodge Charger was stopped in the northbound lanes of North 34th Street.

The three vehicles collided at the intersection, causing the police cruiser to overturn, police said.

"Our immediate thoughts are with all those who were involved in this morning's collision," Acting Police Chief Brett Owen said. "We are thankful that initial reports indicate no critical injuries, and we wish everyone a swift recovery."

Tampa police traffic investigators are working to determine what caused the crash.

Authorities have not said whether they will issue any citations.