Five Injured, Including a Police Officer and Three Minors, in Two-car Collision

According to WCTV, five people sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious following a two-car crash in Live Oak, Florida, on Wednesday evening.

Tractor-trailer May Have Caused Cars to Crash

A Live Oak police officer was responding to a burglary in progress when the wreck occurred. Quinton Swader, 24, had his emergency lights on when he had to swerve around an improperly parked semi-truck on Ohio Avenue, causing a collision with another vehicle.

Officer Swader smashed into a Toyota Corolla near the intersection of Andra Davis Street, reports WCTV. The officer and two minors received an airlift to University of Florida Health in Gainesville with serious injuries. An additional minor and a 44-year-old woman were also treated for minor injuries.

The Live Oak Police Department has revealed that Officer Swader has been released from the hospital and is doing well.

The Florida Highway Patrol is currently investigating the incident, and according to WCTV, charges are pending further investigation.

Motor Vehicle Traffic Accident Statistics

The following information is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• 35,092 people died in motor vehicle wrecks on U.S. roadways in 2015, an increase of 7.2 percent from 2014.
• An estimated 2.44 million people suffered injuries in motor vehicle accidents in 2015.
  • 105,000 more people sustained injuries in crashes in 2015 compared to 2014.
• Fatal multiple-vehicle crashes increased by 11.2 percent from 2014.