NewsChannel 7 has confirmed through Wisconsin Rapids Police that a Rapids Police Officer was air-lifted Saturday night after an accident. The officer is now stable condition at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.
Around 8 pm, a Wisconsin Rapids Officer was answering a call from another agency to help deal with a combative subject. While en-route to help, the officer lost control of the squad car and hit a wall on 1st Avenue and Gardner in Wisconsin Rapids.
The officer was transported by the Spirit of Marshfield to St. Joseph's Hospital.
Authorities say that rumors of a high speed chase are not true.
The name of the officer has not been released yet, but will when all family members are notified. We'll bring you the latest information when it becomes available to us.
NewsChannel 7 did speak with witnesses of the accident. They say they heard the collision from more than a block away. Dick Wittrock, who lives just down the street from where the accident happened said he saw the squad car out his window. "I heard the squad car go by and all the sudden crash into the wall. There was about 10 different emergency vehicles here. Squads and wreckers as well as two ambulances and even a fire truck."
He also said it is not the first time he has seen a vehicle strike that same wall. Wittrock says that usually they hit closer to the turn, but it is is something he has seen before.
The incident is being investigated by the Wood County Sheriff's Department.
