A Santa Rosa police motorcycle officer was injured Tuesday in a crash while responding to a call in the northeast part of the city, authorities said.
The officer was riding a department-issued BMW and headed north on Mendocino Avenue just before 5:40 p.m. while responding to a report of a suspicious person, police said. After passing Steele Lane, a Subaru Outback attempted to pull out of a parking lot and turn left into the southbound lane, crossing into the officer’s path.
He used emergency braking techniques but was unable to stop before impact, according to a police news release.
The officer suffered minor injuries, was treated at a hospital and released. He is expected to take a brief leave from duty to recover, Sgt. Patricia Seffens said.
The Subaru driver was not injured and cooperated with officers.
Both vehicles sustained minor damage, though the motorcycle was towed from the scene.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Police said alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors, and the officer did not have his lights or sirens activated at the time.
