STAMFORD — A Stamford police officer who was helping at a crash scene early New Year’s Eve morning was hit by a drunk driver, police said.
Around 12:15 a.m. Thursday, police said a 14-year-old drove his parents’ car without their permission and crashed into a phone pole and snapped it in half.
That crash caused the power lines to fall down and the road was shut down near the corner of Hope Street and Plymouth Road.
Officer Richard Phelan responded to help block off the road after the teen crashed.
Nearly two hours later, as Phelan had the street blocked off with cones and his police car, another vehicle barreled into the officer.
Edward Salazar-Martinez, 28, of Hope Street, was driving the car that hit officer Phelan, police said.
Salazar-Martinez failed field sobriety tests and was arrested. He refused to take a breath test, police said.
He was charged with Operating Under the Influence, Operating with a Suspended Motor Vehicle License and Striking an Officer with a Motor Vehicle. He was released on a $5,000 appearance bond with a court date of Jan. 14.
The sergeant was treated for a minor injury to his leg and was released from the hospital.
