The NOPD is investigating a vehicle crash that injured an on-duty NOPD officer operating a department motorcycle today (Jan. 26) at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas and Calliope streets.
Just before 1 p.m., NOPD officers on motorcycle were conducting escort training in the area. The instructor officer had closed the intersection of Tchoupitoulas and Calliope streets to passing traffic, while a second officer following behind traveled through the intersection. At that time, a dark-colored Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV coming from the off-ramp from U.S. 90 B toward Tchoupitoulas Street disregarded the police-controlled intersection and crashed into the second officer’s motorcycle. The impact caused the officer to be thrown about 15-20 yards from the vehicle.
The officer was transported via EMS to an area hospital with injuries to the back and leg.
The driver of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, who was not injured in the incident, was found to be at fault for failure to obey a traffic-controlled intersection. No citations will be issued in this incident.