SAVANNAH, GA (July 10, 2011): .A Savannah woman has been hospitalized after a three-car collision on Interstate 516 that sparked a series of events, destroying one patrol car and leading another to roll into a fire truck.
Emily Roszkowiak, 26, was admitted to Memorial University Medical Center after the initial collision a half mile East of Veterans Parkway about 10:56 a.m. Sunday.
The 2008 Toyota Yaris she was driving eastbound in the right lane of I-516 swerved into the left lane and sideswiped a 2010 Nissan. It then crossed the median, heading west and was struck by a westbound 2008 Lexus E350.
Roszkowiak was extracted from the wreckage and transported to Memorial. Her Yaris and the Lexus were destroyed. She was cited for failure to maintain her lane of traffic.
A Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police officer responding to the wreck attempted to cross the median to block traffic on I-516 but stopped to avoid a vehicle heading towards him. When he did, the 2007 Ford police car he was driving settled into the median and became immobilized. Heat from the car set high grass on fire. Officers unsuccessfully attempted to push it away from the flames, but the car ignited and completely burned.
A second 2007 patrol car was parked in the median when its transmission popped into gear and it backed into a 2007 American LaFrance fire truck belonging to Savannah Fire Department that was being used to extinguish the first patrol car. Minor damage was done to the police car and none to the fire truck.
The highway was closed for several hours while the wreckage was cleared, backing traffic up for several miles. The SCMPD traffic division will continue the investigation.
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