SAUGERTIES – A Saugerties police officer is recuperating after being struck by a vehicle while she conducted a vehicle and traffic stop on Route 32, south of Peoples Road in the Town of Saugerties at 4:42 p.m. on Friday.
Officer Jennifer Culver was returning to her patrol car after conducted a traffic stop when she was struck by a southbound car on Route 32. She was transported to the Health Alliance Hospital Broadway Campus in Kingston where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The driver, Melissa Sweet, 79, of Saugerties, pulled her vehicle over after hitting the officer. She reported to detectives she stopped because she had hit something, not realizing until she got out of her car that she had struck the officer.
Sweet said she saw the police car with flashing lights on and saw the officer, but believed she had enough room to pass the traffic stop. Sweet was ticketed for failing to obey the state move over law.
Police Chief Joseph Sinagra reminded motorist that if they cannot safely move to the left of an emergency vehicle, they must stop and not attempt to pass that vehicle.
