Drunk driver hits two patrol cars in New Braunfels
50-year old Dena Courson Welch of New Braunfels was then taken to the Comal County Jail and charged with Driving While Intoxicated. (New Braunfels Police Department / FOX 7 Austin)
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - Two patrol cars with the New Braunfels Police Department were hit by a drunk driver while performing a traffic stop.
Officers with the New Braunfels Police Department were in the middle of conducting a traffic stop on the northbound shoulder in the 2600 block of I-35 South, just north of Loop 337/Rueckle Road, on Tuesday, October 22 around 1:20 a.m when the vehicles were hit. The two NBPD patrol vehicles were parked behind the vehicle that had been stopped when both patrol units were struck by a white Chevrolet Malibu that was traveling at highway speeds.
Both officers were outside of their vehicles at the time of the collision and no officers were injured in the crash.
The female driver of the Malibu was also uninjured, but she did show signs of intoxication.
Both patrol units were totaled in the incident, and although official damages are not yet complete, the estimated value of the two vehicles is in the neighborhood of $100,000. (New Braunfels Police Department)
She was then placed into custody, transported to Christus New Braunfels Hospital for a brief medical evaluation, and a blood search warrant was completed.
50-year old Dena Courson Welch of New Braunfels was then taken to the Comal County Jail and charged with Driving While Intoxicated. Both patrol units were totaled in the incident, and although official damages are not yet complete, the estimated value of the two vehicles is in the neighborhood of $100,000.
This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers that officers face daily while on the job.
The New Braunfels Police Department would like to remind drivers that drinking and driving is not only against the law, it can be deadly.