Officer transported to hospital…

Hyannis – Just before noon, Officer Edwards, a relatively new patrolman for the Barnstable Police, was “shaken up” and injured while responding to a call in the area of the Cape Cod Mall. Edwards was transported to the Cape Cod Hospital emergency room by Hyannis Rescue… his injuries are reportedly non-life-threatening.

Witnesses on the scene report the officer’s blue emergency lights were activated when his cruiser collided with a gray four-door Nissan at the intersection of Route 132 and the mall’s main entrance.

Coincidentally, the accident occurred right across from a ‘Cape Cod Cares for the Troops’ event at the Capetown Plaza, where several Barnstable County Deputy Sheriff Honor Guards where in attendance. The Deputies, in their ceremonial dress blue uniforms responded to the scene to help with directing traffic.

The male operator of the Nissan reported he received a traffic citation for $100 but did not comment on the exact offenses. The citation was issued and explained by Barnstable Police Sergeant John Alexander. Passengers and friends of the operator reported everything happened in an instant but nobody in their vehicle was injured. The passengers also mentioned they had just arrived in town and were making their way to check into a local hotel.

Cape Cod Mall security personnel also witnessed the accident and responded to the scene, blocking off the mall’s entrance until after the accident was cleaned up.

Holiday traffic was intermittently at a standstill in front of the mall as Barnstable County Sheriff Deputies did their best to keep things moving.

Barnstable Police Lieutenant Cameron was summoned to the scene to supervise and possibly secure the injured officer’s service firearm.

The impact of the collision was severe enough to spin the cruiser at least once before it came to a stop, backed up onto a sidewalk approximately 50 feet away from the Nissan. The cruiser and Nissan both needed to be removed from the scene by police summoned “duty” wreckers.

HyannisNews.com will provide updates regarding the accident and the officer’s condition as they become available…

[Barnstable Police Sergeant John Alexander issues and explains a traffic citation to the operator and passengers of the gray Nissan – click to enlarge]