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CLEARWATER, Fla. - A man is facing DUI and drug charges after Clearwater police say he caused a four-vehicle crash that injured a police officer late Thursday night.
The crash happened on the eastbound side of the Courtney Campbell Causeway around 11 p.m., police said.
According to CPD, the officer had stopped to help with a disabled vehicle when a pickup truck crashed into the officer's cruiser, which had its lights activated. Two more vehicles were then involved in the crash.
This photo from the Clearwater Police Department shows the cruiser damaged in a crash that investigators say was caused by a driver under the influence of drugs and alcohol. (Courtesy: CPD.)
The officer was treated for injuries at an area hospital and has since been released. No other serious injuries were reported.
Police said the driver of the pickup, Jerry Sandefur, Jr., 45, admitted to drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana and taking "various" pain medications prior to the crash.
"Our officer or any of the other people in the other vehicles could have been killed or seriously injured as a result of this man's egregious driving behavior," Police Chief Eric Gandy said in a statement. "There are so many red flags here - failing to move over or slow down, not to mention drinking and driving, as well as smoking marijuana and mixing in pain pills."
Sandefur faces charges of driving under the influence, DUI with serious bodily injury/property damage, possession of marijuana and violation of probation.
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