Crime & Safety
HPD Motorcycle Officer Escapes Serious Injury After I-45 Crash
An HPD officer crashed his motorcycle on I-45 Thursday after he took evasive action to avoid being hit by a motorist, officials said.
HOUSTON — A Houston Police officer escaped serious injury after he was cut off and crashed his motorcycle early Thursday morning. The accident happened at about 5:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of Interstate 45 north.
Assistant Chief Troy Finner said one of HPD's motorcycle officers was traveling southbound on I-45 north when he was cut off by a motorist who was changing lanes, and was forced to take evasive action.
"He swerved to keep from hitting that vehicle," Finner said.
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The officer said his motorcycle began to vibrate and he began to lose control. Finner said the officer's training kicked and he laid the motorcycle down sideways, which slid about 500 feet.
Initially, reports were that the officer had lost control after hitting road debris and had been hit by a tractor-trailer.
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"Thank God that didn't happen," Finner said.
The officer, whose name has not been released, slid along the roadway and managed to escape with a significant case of road rash.
Finner, who referenced the shooting that left 5 HPD officers hurt last week, said he was worried after receiving the initial report of an officer being seriously injured.
"When I received the call today, my heart dropped," he said. "The first thing I told him was that I wanted to kiss him. We've been through so much these last couple weeks."
Finner credited the swift action of fellow Houston Police officers who arrived at the scene quickly, along with an off-duty Houston Firefighter, and a Good Samaritan who helped block traffic on I-45 to keep the fallen officer from being seriously injured or killed.
"Don't ever underestimate the hearts of our citizens in this great city, and our fire and police department," Finner said.
The officer was taken to the Texas Medical Center, and is expected to make a full recovery.
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