OWI, Other Charges Filed In Waterloo Police Car Crash

Black Hawk County sheriff's officials believe a man was driving drunk when his vehicle collided with a marked Waterloo police car and injured a local officer early Tuesday morning (Nov. 29, 2016).

Erick Anderson, 27, of Iberia, Mo., was booked into the Black Hawk County jail on multiple charges, including second-offense OWI. He was also cited for no insurance involving a personal injury accident, failure to have control and driving on the wrong side of the road.

The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 20/Iowa Highway 27 near the Ansborough Ave. interchange just after 4:30 a.m. Waterloo police officers and sheriff's deputies were both sent to the area after dispatchers received several calls concerning an eastbound vehicle in the westbound lanes.

According to sheriff's officials, Waterloo police officer Mark Nissen observed the vehicle coming at him and tried to take evasive action to avoid a collision. At the same time, the other vehicle changed lanes and struck the squad car head-on. When the crash occurred, the patrol car was being operated with the emergency lights and siren both on, sheriff's officials said.

Officer Nissen was transported to UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital in Waterloo with minor injuries. Anderson and a passenger in his vehicle were both examined at the scene by Waterloo Fire Paramedics.