State Police: Police officer injured in three-car crash in Galax

Virginia State Police is investigating a three-vehicle crash that occurred Tuesday evening (April 30) in the Town of Galax. The crash occurred at 5:45 p.m. at the intersection of Main and Grayson streets.

A Town of Galax Police Officer was traveling south on Main Street in a marked 2019 Dodge Charger. The officer was responding to an emergency call and the vehicle’s emergency lights and siren were activated.

As the Charger approached the intersection, the stoplight turned green and the Charger entered the intersection. A 2008 Ford Focus traveling west on Grayson Street entered the intersection and struck the driver’s side of the Dodge Charger. The impact of that crash caused the Dodge Charger to spin around and strike a 2009 Honda Civic that was stopped for the red light while north on Main Street. The Dodge Charger continued off the road and struck a tree.

The police officer was flown to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. He was wearing a seat belt.

The stoplight at this particular intersection is equipped to change to green for approaching emergency vehicles with lights activated. According to witnesses, the Dodge Charger was not traveling at a high speed when entering the intersection.

Neither of the other two drivers was injured. Both the Ford and Honda drivers were wearing seat belts.

The crash remains under investigation with the assistance of the Virginia State Police Wytheville Division Crash Reconstruction Team. Charges are pending.