Arizona officer dies after driver crashes into patrol automobile with sirens on, police chief says

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A Tucson police officer has died after a driver crashed into his patrol automobile whereas he was responding to a name together with his siren on and lights flashing, authorities mentioned Monday.

Tucson police mentioned Officer Adam Buckner, 31, had the correct of manner earlier than the collision Sunday evening at an intersection not removed from the College of Arizona campus. He died from his accidents after being rushed to a hospital.

Buckner was going by an intersection on a inexperienced gentle when a sedan making a flip didn’t yield to his marked patrol automobile’s sirens and lights, Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar mentioned at a information convention Monday.

Police mentioned Buckner was responding to a report of a person breaking home windows at an occupied enterprise and that the pressure of the collision despatched the officer’s patrol car right into a site visitors sign pole.

Group members and different officers gave first support and CPR to Buckner earlier than paramedics took him to Banner-College Medical Middle.

The opposite driver, whose identification wasn’t instantly launched, was left with minor accidents and there was no signal of impairment, Kasmar mentioned.

He mentioned no citations had been issued to the opposite driver, pending an investigation.

Buckner is the ninth Tucson officer to die within the line of responsibility within the division’s historical past, in accordance with officers.

“Everyone knows the danger of our career,” mentioned Kasmar, who choked up a number of instances throughout the information convention and didn’t take any questions from reporters.

He referred to as Buckner “a good friend of many and a real legislation enforcement skilled.”

Kasmar mentioned Buckner was lately highlighted because the Midtown Division’s Officer of the Month and was assigned to squad 9 as their lead police officer.

Buckner started his legislation enforcement profession with the New Orleans Police Division in 2017 and later grew to become a detective.

He joined the Tucson Police Division in November 2021 and is survived by his spouse, mom, one sister and three brothers.