Buckeye Police officer seriously injured following crash

BUCKEYE, Ariz. (FOX 10) -- Buckeye Police officials say a police officer has been involved in a car accident Wednesday.

According to a statement released by Buckeye Police Wednesday afternoon, the incident happened just before 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, as the officer was responding to a medical emergency call at a local elementary school. The motorcycle officer was heading north on Verrado when the crash happened.

"There was a serious accident. Officer went down on the motorcycle and sustained serious injuries. He was airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital, where we are told that his injuries are serious, but not life-threatening," said Donna Rossi with Buckeye Police.

The officer, identified as a 35-year-old man, has been with the Buckeye Police Department for 9.5 years. The driver of the other vehicle, described as a white Jeep, was shaken up but not injured.

Police say the officer underwent surgery for a broken leg and additional broken bones. He is in stable condition.

As a result of the crash and the subsequent investigation, Verrado Way was closed in both directions from Lost Creek Drive to Western Drive for some time. The road is now back open.

This incident comes almost a week after Phoenix Police officer Paul Rutherford was killed in a crash in Phoenix. Officer Rutherford was at the scene of an unrelated crash when the deadly accident happened.