Officer Injured During DUI Stop On I-25 Presented With Corporal Stripes
DENVER (CBS4)- The officer who was seriously injured when he was struck by a suspected drunk driver during a traffic stop on Interstate 25 on Friday learned some good news in the hospital during a visit by the Chief of Police.
Officer Dan Swint had pulled over another suspected drunk driver Friday morning on I-25 near 38th Avenue. That's when another vehicle slammed into his cruiser, causing a chain reaction crash.
Swint suffered a broken jaw, spinal cord fracture and five broken ribs.
Swint, a 19-year veteran of the force, had learned a few days before the collision that he would soon be promoted to rank of Corporal. But after the crash he was concerned about retaining that promotion.
According to the Denver Police Department's Facebook page, DPD Chief Robert White stopped at the hospital to check up on Swint and while there he presented Swint with his "well-deserved Corporal stripes."
White said as soon as Swint is recovered and ready for action he will serve as Corporal Swint.
Police say Heidi Jewell, 28, was drunk when she crashed into Swint's patrol car. The charges against her also include vehicular assault.
Another vehicle also crashed into Jewell's SUV for a total of four collisions.
