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Ames patrol car hit in late-night accident [Ames Tribune, Iowa :: ](Ames Tribune (IA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) March 15--An Ames police patrol car was hit in a head-on collision by another vehicle early Thursday morning. Ames police said the patrol car was driving on Duff Avenue about 1:10 a.m. when Officer Vince Junior saw another person driving toward him, coming into his lane. Ames police Cmdr. Geoff Huff said Junior stopped completely in the road and was struck head-on by a 1996 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Anthony Norley, 24, of Ames. Junior was not injured except for some soreness and finished the remainder of his work shift. Huff said whenever an officer is in an accident, a different agency is asked to investigate, so Iowa State University handled the accident, and Norley was arrested for operating while intoxicated. Norley was also cited for reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of a two-way highway, operation of a motor vehicle with expired license and no insurance. He also was charged with use of an electronic communications device although it wasn't immediately known in what manner he was using it. While adults can talk on cell phones while driving, it is illegal for them to text or use email while driving. The patrol car, a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, had up to $5,000 damage, Huff said, and will be totaled out due to the vehicle's age and milage. The damaged car was close to being phased out already, Huff said, as the department has been changing over its patrol cars to new Ford Interceptors. He said some of the equipment from the old car will be stripped out and transferred to the new car, but the department will order new equipment that is different for each model of car, such as the cages, radio boxes, mounting equipment and lights. ___ (c)2014 the Ames Tribune, Iowa Visit the Ames Tribune, Iowa at www.amestrib.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |