Lubbock Police Officer Hurt, Saves Woman
By: Joe Sherwood
Updated: September 18, 2012
It happened around 1:40 a.m. Monday, at 19th and Memphis.
Police tell us it started when a car hit a curb, and pulled to the side of the road. Another car pulled up behind that car to help, and called police.
Two LPD Officers responded, on of them pulled-in behind behind the stopped cars, and the other stopped on the opposite side of 19th street to help control traffic.
Soon after, a white van plowed into the police cruiser stopped on the opposite side of 19th. The crash sent that cruiser toward the officer behind the two other cars. That officer pushed one of those drivers out of the way, but the crashed cruiser the officer. The driver of that van was Peter Keltz.
Other police on the scene said the officer suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. He was released from the hospital around 5:00 a.m., however, and is doing fine.
The woman he pushed out of the way suffered minor injuries when she fell to the ground.
Police were on the scene for several hours investigating the incident. According to the police report, The driver, Keltz, was arrested, taken to UMC for treatment, and booked into the city holding facility. According to the report, Keltz was found 'o have operated a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated.'
Keltz was arrested and booked into Lubbock County Jail Monday evening, and was charged with DWI and aggravated assault.
LPD has not yet released the name of the injured officer.
Kenzie Smith was staying at the Baymont Hotel, right outside where the accident occurred and heard the accident from her hotel room. "We heard a huge, loud crash, we actually thought it was right outside our room," said Smith. "There were so many cars, it was like, and it happened within two minutes, I mean I felt like every police car in Lubbock was here."
Smith felt the response time was quick and seeing the officers react made her feel safer. "I felt really safe, I mean it scared me at first to see all of that, but seeing how quickly they were there and how many police officers were there, it makes me feel really comfortable and safe," said Smith.
Police tell us it started when a car hit a curb, and pulled to the side of the road. Another car pulled up behind that car to help, and called police.
Two LPD Officers responded, on of them pulled-in behind behind the stopped cars, and the other stopped on the opposite side of 19th street to help control traffic.
Soon after, a white van plowed into the police cruiser stopped on the opposite side of 19th. The crash sent that cruiser toward the officer behind the two other cars. That officer pushed one of those drivers out of the way, but the crashed cruiser the officer. The driver of that van was Peter Keltz.
Other police on the scene said the officer suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. He was released from the hospital around 5:00 a.m., however, and is doing fine.
The woman he pushed out of the way suffered minor injuries when she fell to the ground.
Police were on the scene for several hours investigating the incident. According to the police report, The driver, Keltz, was arrested, taken to UMC for treatment, and booked into the city holding facility. According to the report, Keltz was found 'o have operated a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated.'
Keltz was arrested and booked into Lubbock County Jail Monday evening, and was charged with DWI and aggravated assault.
LPD has not yet released the name of the injured officer.
Kenzie Smith was staying at the Baymont Hotel, right outside where the accident occurred and heard the accident from her hotel room. "We heard a huge, loud crash, we actually thought it was right outside our room," said Smith. "There were so many cars, it was like, and it happened within two minutes, I mean I felt like every police car in Lubbock was here."
Smith felt the response time was quick and seeing the officers react made her feel safer. "I felt really safe, I mean it scared me at first to see all of that, but seeing how quickly they were there and how many police officers were there, it makes me feel really comfortable and safe," said Smith.
