Muskogee, OK : Police officer injured in head-on crash Tuesday, November 15, 2016

A Muskogee police officer was injured Tuesday after a head-on collision with a 2008 Chevrolet van.

The van, a Pleasant Valley Health Care Center and Retirement Apartments van driven by Billy Wayne Daniels, 63, was westbound on Okmulgee Avenue, Muskogee Police Officer Lincoln Anderson said. Muskogee Police Officer Gary Reasnor was eastbound on Okmulgee Avenue.

The two vehicles collided shortly before 2:25 p.m. near the 21st Street intersection, pinning Reasnor inside.

"It took a while to get him out," Anderson said. "I will say this, the professionalism of the fire department and EMS is second to none."

At least three witnesses told investigators the van crossed the center line, Anderson said. At the time of the collision, an AT&T crew had the outside eastbound lane blocked.

Dozens of people gathered after hearing the crash and learning that a police officer had been injured. First responders transported both drivers to area hospitals. Daniels' injuries were reportedly minor. Their conditions were unavailable Tuesday afternoon.

Richard Brooks, a local pastor, was painting around the block when he heard the collision.

"I heard this loud bang," Brooks said. "I knew it was an accident, I knew AT&T was over here working, so I was expecting it was one of their trucks."

Brooks went to the scene of the collision. The officer was cut and bloody, he said.

Muskogee police officers, including ranks up to the chief, came to the scene. Law enforcers and first responders shut down several blocks of Okmulgee Avenue while they extricated the officer and reconstructed the collision.

Reasnor was new to the force, fresh from field training, Anderson said.

Source :
Police officer injured in head-on crash