CLEARWATER, Fla. — A driver was taken to the hospital after police say he crashed into the back of a police cruiser Friday night.
The Clearwater Police Department was investigating a separate crash on U.S. Highway 19 N at Enterprise Road when an unrelated driver crashed into the rear of an unoccupied police car.
Dennis Murphy, driving a Hyundai Sonata, failed to move over and crashed into the car, police explain. The impact pushed the car into the back of another car with someone inside.
Murphy was transported to the hospital with minor injuries, and no officers were injured.
Northbound lanes of the highway were shut down while police investigated.
"This is what can happen when a driver doesn't move over for a stopped police vehicle," Clearwater Police Department wrote on Facebook. "Please slow down and move over. Always."
On May 13, police say Murphy was charged with possession of heroin,
possession of fentanyl and DUI causing property damage/injury. He was also cited for failing to move over for an emergency vehicle. Officers say blood test results showed he had multiple drugs in his system at the time of the crash. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail.