On Monday evening, 2/13/12, at about 6:48PM, Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to a traffic accident in the 5000 block of SH 358 (SPID) east bound between Everhart and Staples (C1201106). The vehicles involved in the accident were pulled over on the right shoulder of the highway.

At about 7:02PM, while working the accident, a police Officer on the passenger side of one of the vehicles was struck from behind by a tire. The tire knocked the Officer into the car he was standing next to. Although there were other Officers at the scene, and witnesses in the original vehicle, no one saw where the tire came from. It is possible the tire came off a trailer or out of a truck bed and the driver had no knowledge of the tire loss. It is also unknown if the tire came from a vehicle on the highway or the access road. The tire did not come off of either of the cars involved in the first accident.

The 29-year-old male Officer, is believed to have sustained a broken leg. He was taken to Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital by ambulance. A 20-year-old male, who had stepped from one of the vehicles involved in the first crash, was ‘brushed’ by the tire before it struck the Officer. He was treated and released by Medics at the scene.

CCPD Traffic investigators were called to the scene to investigate the second accident (C1201109).  The highway and the access road were both closed during the investigation. The highway was re-opened at 9:11PM.

The Corpus Christi Police Department would like to speak to anyone who may know where the tire came from. If you have information about this accident please call the Police Department at 886-2600, or you can call Crime Stoppers at 361-888-TIPS if you wish to remain anonymous.

Any additional information about this accident will be released by the CCPD PIO Office at www.ccpdblotter.com.