An Atlanta police officer injured in a wreck Tuesday night is expected to undergo surgery for a broken leg Wednesday, while another officer involved in a second wreck while rushing to his fellow officer's aid was treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital.
The first wreck occurred around 9:15 at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue, Officer K.Y. Jones with Atlanta police said. That officer was ejected from his motorcycle after colliding with a silver SUV that turned in front of the officer, she said. The officer had been on his way to Philips Arena to help with traffic following the Hawks-Lakers game, she said.
A second motorcycle officer was then hit by a minivan on Ivan Allen Boulevard near Spring Street about a minute later, Jones said.
Both officers were transported to Grady Memorial Hospital.
Officer Jeff Davis, who was involved in the initial crash suffered a broken left leg and a "few scrapes and scratches," Jones said. He is expected to undergo surgery Wednesday, she said.
Officer Leslie Balsini, who wrecked while responding to the first crash, had no broken bones, and was treated at Grady and released early Wednesday morning, Jones said. She said Balsini is "a little sore but doing well and in good spirits."
Caleb J. Spivak, of east Atlanta, watched the first wreck in Midtown and saw Davis on the ground.
"He was thrown at least 20 feet," Spivak told the AJC.
The driver of the SUV stopped after colliding with motorcycle, Spivak said. Another officer arrived on the scene within seconds, he said.
Seconds after that, officers were called to the second wreck, near downtown, Jones said.
The SUV driver involved in the collision at Peachtree and Ponce de Leon was charged with failure to yield while turning left, Jones said Wednesday, while the minivan driver in the wreck on Ivan Allen was charged with failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.
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