Authorities said a driver was cited after crashing head-on into a police squad car as the officer was turning at an intersection in Zion, leaving the officer injured.
Zion Police Department Lt. Derek Zaloudek said the incident happened around 7:37 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of 20th Street and Elizabeth Avenue.
The crash involved a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze and a Zion Police Department 2018 Ford Explorer.
The squad was stopped on Elizabeth Avenue facing northbound at the stop sign for north and southbound traffic.
Zaloudek said the officer was preparing to turn eastbound onto 20th Street.
The Chevrolet was traveling westbound on 20th Street preparing to turn southbound onto Elizabeth Avenue.
The officer proceeded to turn eastbound and was struck head-on by the Chevrolet.
Zaloudek said the driver of the Chevrolet crossed into the opposite lane to take an angle on their southbound, resulting in the impact.
The driver of the Chevrolet was cited for an improper turn violation for crossing into the eastbound lane to make their southbound turn, Zaloudek said.
The officer involved was injured and remains out of work as of Thursday recovering.
The police department said crashes involving drivers cutting the corner to make their turn happen frequently.
They primarily occur at uncontrolled intersections in neighborhoods and on residential streets that do not have roadway markings.
“It’s easy to do when in a rush or areas that you’re familiar with but it happens so very frequently,” the department said.