Indio K-9 Police Officer Recovering After Suspected DUI Collision

An Indio K-9 police officer is recovering after being injured in a late-night traffic collision Sunday evening.

The crash happened just after 10 p.m. at the intersection of Monroe Street and Avenue 40. According to Indio police, the officer was standing outside his patrol vehicle when a Nissan sedan traveling eastbound crashed head-on into the parked unit.

The force of the impact caused the patrol vehicle to strike the officer, knocking him to the ground. Officials say he was found approximately 30 feet from his vehicle and was transported by ambulance to Desert Regional Medical Center.

Police confirm the officer has since been released from the hospital and is now recovering from his injuries.

The officer’s K-9 partner, Hoki, was inside the patrol vehicle at the time of the collision and was not injured.

Authorities say the 28-year-old driver of the Nissan remained at the scene and showed signs of impairment. Authorities add she has since been booked into the Benoit Detention Center in Indio. DUI is suspected, and the California Highway Patrol has taken over the investigation.

Officials have not released further details as the investigation remains ongoing.