Motorist injured in accident involving city police officer

A Burlington woman was injured Thursday when a Burlington police officer drove through a red traffic signal and struck her vehicle.

Crystal Cruz, 28, was taken to Alamance Regional Medical Center. The nature of her injuries was not immediately known. Her mother said Cruz was in surgery Thursday afternoon.

Police said the accident occurred at around 1:53 p.m. at the intersection of South Fisher Street and Webb Avenue. Cruz was driving her 1993 Nissan west on Fisher Street when her vehicle was struck by a police car driven by Officer D.F. Murphy, said police Staff Sgt. G.K. Turner. Turner said Murphy admitted to entering the intersection while the light was red. Murphy was not injured.

"I'd say it is out of the ordinary. We don't have many officer-involved accidents," Turner said. "When you drive as many miles as we do, you are going to have accidents occasionally."

Turner said he was unsure of what sort of reprimand Murphy would receive.

Damage estimates for both vehicles were not immediately available.