PEARL, Miss. (WJTV) – Two people, including a Pearl police officer, were injured during a crash on Interstate 20.

The incident occurred on I-20 near the 51 mile marker just after 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13.

Investigators said officers were conducting an accident investigation involving potential life threatening injuries. During the investigation, a Pearl Police Department patrol vehicle, with lights activated, was struck from behind, causing significant damage to both vehicles.

The officer inside the patrol vehicle sustained minor injuries. The officer was treated at a local hospital and released. Police said the driver of the striking vehicle was injured and transported to a local hospital.

“We are fortunate that the officer involved in this incident did not suffer serious injuries,” said Assistant Pearl Police Chief Kyle Himmel. “This crash serves as an important reminder to all drivers to remain vigilant and slow down when passing emergency vehicles. Our officers work tirelessly to keep the community safe, and it’s critical that motorists exercise caution when approaching scenes of law enforcement activity.”

Pearl police urged drivers to adhere to traffic laws, especially when emergency lights are flashing. Under state law, drivers are required to slow down and move over when passing a police vehicle, fire truck, or emergency vehicle on the side of the road.