PORT TOWNSEND — A Port Townsend police officer hit a car this week while making a U-turn.
No one was hurt, said the State Patrol, which is investigating the collision on state Highway 20 near Haines Place.
Officer William R. Corrigan, 60, was on a special patrol Tuesday for seat belt and distracted-driving violations, said Patrick Fudally, spokesman for the Port Townsend Police Department.
According to a preliminary report by Trooper James Decker, Corrigan was driving a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria patrol car eastbound on state Highway 20 approaching Haines Place.
Laura M. Christenson Hofer, 48, of Port Townsend was driving a red 2006 Toyota Corolla eastbound on Highway 20 and was merging into the left turn lane approaching Haines Place when Corrigan attempted to make a U-turn to go after a possible violator traveling westbound.
His patrol car hit the Toyota in the eastbound turn lane at 6:30 p.m.
The State Patrol did not say how fast either vehicle was traveling.
Both vehicles had reportable damage. Both were driven from the scene.
Neither drugs nor alcohol was involved. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, the State Patrol said.
Fudally said the State Patrol is automatically called in when police vehicles are involved in any such incident.
Once the final State Patrol report has been received by the Police Department, an internal, formal process will review the collision and determine what the department’s next steps will be, he said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
