A Pine Bluff police officer is hospitalized after his vehicle rear-ended a Pine Bluff School District bus Monday morning on Dollarway Road near Phyllis Street, according to police.
The officer’s vehicle caught fire and he was pinned inside before being extricated, according to police. He was listed in stable condition at Jefferson Regional Medical Center as of 12:10 p.m. Police added the officer, who has not yet been named, is responsive to medical personnel.
“I’m not sure if the officer was distracted or the sun was in his eyes,” Police Lt. David DeFoor said.
No children were on the bus at the time, according to police and the school district. The bus driver was transported to the hospital for precautionary measures. DeFoor said the driver suffered minor injuries.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The accident backed up traffic until about 9:15 a.m. Photos from James Collins, owner of J&A Auto mechanic shop just southeast of James Matthews Elementary School, showed the wrecked police unit coming to a rest across from Oceans Fish and Chicken, just northwest of the campus. Collins said he heard a loud boom when the wreck happened.
Police said in a social media post the outcome “could have been worse” had it not been for the reactions of several citizens on the scene.
“One man stopped and used a fire extinguisher he had in his truck to put out the fire,” according to police. “This may have saved the Officer’s life. Several other citizens cut away the air bags so the officer could breathe and provided encouragement until emergency personnel arrived on the scene.
“We thank all of you who stopped to help the Officer and quite possibly saved his life.”
Police say they also located the man who put out the fire, saying he left before anyone could get his name.
“We owe him a debt of gratitude … and a new fire extinguisher,” police wrote before asking him to reach out to them.