By Billy Davis

A Batesville police officer directing traffic escaped injury when a motorist rammed into the back of his parked police cruiser.

 The driver of the vehicle was injured.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.

Batesville police say the incident happened about 8 a.m. Friday, May 30 in front of the new Fastenal building, where Lt. Kerry Pittman was diverting traffic.

The business is relocating to a new building along Highway 6 East, where Kerry was ensuring traffic safety while concrete trucks were entering and exiting the property, said BPD Captain Jimmy McCloud.

Pittman “was able to run without getting hit,” McCloud said. The cruiser’s blue lights were activated, he said.

McCloud did not know the name of the driver, and a call to the MHP was not returned by press time Monday.

The driver was transported from the scene to Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford, McCloud said.