— From City of Oxford Communications Specialist Sabrina Richards
An off-duty Oxford police officer heading into work early Friday morning was struck by a vehicle when he stopped to help two pedestrians – one in a wheelchair – as they attempted to cross a busy intersection.
The unnamed officer was taken to Duke University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to information from the city’s Communications Specialist Sabrina Richards.
One of the pedestrians also was taken to Duke or further evaluation and the second pedestrian was transported to Granville Health System.
The incident occurred about 6 a.m. along N.C. 96 – just north of the I-85 interchange – near the Days Inn, according to information from Richards, when the officer observed two citizens attempting to cross a busy intersection and recognized an immediate threat to their safety. The officer stopped to render aid.
“During this time, one of the citizens, who was crossing the intersection in a wheelchair, was struck by an oncoming vehicle. As the officer turned to assist the individual in the wheelchair, both the officer and the assisting citizen were struck by a second vehicle,” the statement read.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol is conducting the investigation into the incident. At this time, no charges have been filed.
The City of Oxford and the Oxford Police Department are grateful for the swift response of emergency personnel and ask the community to keep the officer and the citizen in their thoughts.
