A pair of 4 p.m. vehicle accidents had Bridgeport Police Department taxed for a while, Chief John Walker said.

 

The first wreck actually involved a Bridgeport police cruiser, driven by Patrolman Shaun Fleming and also occupied by the department’s police dog, Gretchen. That accident, which took place on Rt. 131 just after 4 p.m., resulted from an earlier call to which Fleming had been dispatched involving a road blockage, Chief John Walker explained.

 

“The original call that came in was for a boat which had fallen off a trailer and had the road blocked,” Walker said. “Shaun helped get the boat off the road and back on the trailer. Then he got back into the car and another car hit him from behind.”

 

The cruiser lights were on to alert motorists that the road was blocked. The police dog remained in the cruiser while Fleming assisted the motorist who had lost the boat.

 

Fleming was transported to United Hospital Center by Anmoore EMS. He was treated for minor injuries and has been released.The dog was not harmed. 

 

The driver of the other vehicle, a silver Kia, was transported to UHC by Bridgeport EMS.

 

Both the police cruiser and the Kia had extensive damage, Walker said. Believed to be totaled, the Kia was towed from the scene.

 

The accident took place about a mile from the 279 exit, Walker said. Harrison County Sheriff’s Department is investigating.

 

Just minutes after the call went out for that accident, Bridgeport Police were called to the scene of an accident on West Main Street/Route 50 just in front of McDonalds.

 

Officer L.D. Janssen said a Saturn Ion was pulling out of McDonalds when the driver failed to yield the right of way and was hit by a Chevrolet Silverado traveling eastbound.

 

The driver of the Ion was transported to UHC with minor injuries. The Ion was subsequently towed from the scene.