Motorcycle officer injured en route to automobile crash

Officer Craig Simpson, who has been with the University of Arizona Police Department for two years, was headed toward a collision at North Park Avenue and East Speedway Boulevard about 9:20 a.m. A blue Dodge Neon turning left from Speedway onto southbound Park Avenue had collided with a teal Ford Escort, said Cmdr. Brian Seastone, a UAPD spokesman.

Simpson lost control of his motorcycle and landed near the intersection of East Drachman Street and Park Avenue, Seastone said.

The injured officer was taken to University Medical Center and treated for a separated shoulder and cuts above his right eye. He was released later in the day. The motorcycle sustained damage to its windshield and will need body work, Seastone said.

Tucson police continued to the site of the initial crash, where the driver of the Escort was taken to Tucson Medical Center with possible neck and back injuries, said Tucson police officer Evan Hofmann.

Additional details about the two-car crash were unavailable last night. Tucson police handled that investigation.

Both collisions snarled the morning commute near the busy campus intersection. Eastbound Speedway Boulevard was limited to one lane for about an hour, and Park Avenue was also restricted at the site of Simpson's crash, about three blocks north of the first collision.

University police have not yet determined whether Simpson was driving normally or speeding to the crash with lights and sirens on, Seastone said.

"We're still following up on that," he said. "We really haven't been able to talk to him (Simpson) yet."

But Seastone said there was sand on the roadway and that may have contributed to the mishap.

Simpson, one of UAPD's three motorcycle officers, had been part of the squad for six months and completed more than 80 hours of specialized training before qualifying for motorcycle patrol, Seastone said.

UAPD has started an internal investigation of the crash, and Simpson is expected to return to work in about a week after he recovers from his injuries, Seastone said.

Wildcat Assistant City Editor Susan Carroll contributed to this report.

Joseph Altman Jr. can be reached via e-mail at Joseph.Altman.Jr@wildcat.arizona.edu.