Officer, motorcyclist involved in crash in Beechmont neighborhood

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A Louisville Metro Police Department officer was involved in a crash with a motorcycle in the Beechmont neighborhood.

The crash was reported at the intersection of Southern Parkway and W. Southern Heights Avenue around 11:30 a.m., LMPD spokesman Dwight Mitchell said.

Mitchell said a preliminary investigation showed the officer was exiting the ramp from Interstate 264 onto Southern Parkway and crashed into the motorcyclist who was going southbound on Southern Parkway. That officer was headed to another wreck to which he had been dispatched, but that crash fortunately did not result in any serious injuries.

Driver Karen Smith told WAVE 3 News, at first, she thought the officer was trying to pull her over because she saw him quickly get behind her approaching the ramp with lights and sirens on. That’s when she realized he was trying to pass her and another vehicle. Her niece took video of the accident right after it happened, where they saw the officer’s air bags deployed and the motorcyclist on the ground with his helmet nearby. She said believes the officer was doing his job, but added that she thought he could have used more caution entering the intersection.

“I appreciate (he) was going to help someone, but at the same time you still didn’t make it to that help, you wind up needing help,” Smith said. "So, whoever he was going to help, they still needed help now and two other people needed help, so to me coming off that ramp that fast, you should have at least yielded until everybody knew you was coming.”

The officer and the motorcyclist were taken to University of Louisville Hospital. Mitchell said their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

The LMPD Traffic Unit is investigating the crash.

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