LUBBOCK, Texas — Lubbock Police responded to an crash at 50th Street and University Avenue at about 3:45 pm Wednesday. A police unit, a school bus and two more vehicles were involved.
According to an LPD statement, an officer was responding to a domestic assault involving a foot pursuit with the suspect. The officer had their lights and sirens on as they traveled northbound on University Avenue.
The officer stopped for a red light at the 50th Street and University Avenue intersection, LPD said. As traffic yielded to the officer, LPD said the officer continued through the intersection.
According to LPD, the officer was about to clear the intersection when a pickup hit the police truck causing the officer to hit an SUV. Due to the impact, the SUV was pushed into a school bus.
Lubbock ISD said six kids and a driver were on the bus. It was coming from McWhorter Elementary School. LISD said no one on the bus was hurt.
The roadway was re-opened before 6:00 pm and the crash is still under investigation.
Lubbock Police released the following statement at 5:15 pm:
At approximately 3:45 p.m., a crash involving four vehicles occurred at the intersection of 50th Street and University Avenue. The four vehicles included a LPD pickup truck, a second pickup truck, a SUV and a school bus.
The officer was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries. Three others had minor injuries.
According to LISD, there were six students on the bus at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported on the bus and the students have been released to their parents.
At this time, all lanes of University are shut down between 50th and 52nd Street. Drivers are urged to avoid the area while LPD crash investigators process the scene.
Lubbock Police released the following statement at 7:30 pm:
Crash investigators with the Lubbock Police Department are investigating a four vehicle crash that occurred at the intersection of University Avenue and 50th Street at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday.
Based on the initial investigation, an LPD officer was traveling northbound on University with lights and sirens to respond to a domestic assault involving a foot pursuit with the suspect.
The officer approached the intersection at 50th Street and stopped at the red light. Before entering the intersection, the officer continued using his lights and sirens to alert drivers. Once eastbound and westbound traffic yielded to the officer, he continued through the intersection.
Just before clearing the intersection, a pickup truck traveling in the far right westbound lane entered the intersection and struck the LPD truck. Due to the impact, the LPD truck struck an SUV stopped in the southbound lanes of University. The SUV was then pushed into a school bus stopped in the next lane.
The police officer was taken by EMS to the hospital with moderate injuries. A passenger in the SUV was taken by EMS to the hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the pickup truck went by private vehicle to the hospital with minor injuries.
According to the Lubbock Independent School District, six students were on the bus at the time of crash, but no injuries were reported.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.