NPD officer out of hospital after morning crash

NAPLES, Fla. – A police officer is out of the hospital after getting hit Tuesday morning by a suspected drunk driver. The officer was in the middle of a traffic stop when he got hit.

Firefighters, paramedics and troopers responded to the three car crash on Goodlette-Frank Road around 2 a.m.

Troopers say 27-year-old Blake Singen, who was driving an Acura Integra, smashed right into Officer Ryan Harp’s patrol car as he made a routine traffic stop.

That caused a chain reaction, sending Officer Harp’s patrol car into the Lincoln he already pulled over. Luckily, he and the driver of the Lincoln were okay.

“He’s worked the midnight shift almost his entire career,” said Captain John Barkley with the Naples Police Department. “So, he’s out there protecting everybody while most people are sleeping.”

Officer Harp was sent to the hospital with an injured arm, but was treated and released.  The impact of the crash was so severe it even woke up neighbors who live off Goodlette-Frank Road.

“I just heard a bang out here and I heard the police cruiser going, the beeper going off and I live right around the corner, so I came out here and saw all these cruisers,” said witness Jim Crouse.

The Naples Fire Department said they had to use the jaws of life to get Singen out of his car.  He was then flown to Lee Memorial Hospital in serious condition.

WINK News was there as the medical helicopter landed.  Troopers say Singen may have been drinking and driving.

Now, Naples Police are asking all drivers to remember Officer Harp and this violent crash and to move over when they see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road.

“It’s just severe damage and shows you how very lucky he was that he wasn’t seriously injured. There have been officers around the country that have been killed in similar circumstances,” said Captain Barkley.

Officer Harp has been cleared to return to work.