Cop hospitalized after crash with joyriding teens

A Vancouver police officer is in hospital with serious injuries after his patrol car was hit by a group of joyriding teens early Monday.

The constable and a partner were responding to a separate 911 call in the area of Kingsway and Tyne Street when they were struck by a car, which caught on fire.

“Investigators believe the 16-year-old driver had been doing doughnuts — a reckless manoeuvre that involves turning a car’s wheels while accelerating in order to create a circular skid pattern — before colliding with the officers’ unmarked police car,” said VPD spokesman Sgt. Steve Addison in a news release.

Neither the young driver nor his two teen passengers were injured, but one of the officers “could miss months of work while he recovers,” said Addison. The other officer had less serious injuries and is recovering at home.

The driver was arrested after the crash and is facing charges including driving without a licence and dangerous driving.