5th offense DUI Suspect flees traffic stop, injuring civilian and Smyrna PD officer after collision

Paul Reed, 62, Smyrna

A Smyrna Police officer and his detainee were injured when a fleeing DUI suspect crashed into an SPD patrol car. On Wednesday 4/6/22 at approximately 10:40 p.m., an SPD patrol officer observed a red pickup truck failing to maintain it’s lane of travel and driving recklessly on US 13 in the area of Cory Ln. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, however the driver fled northbound on US 13. In the area of US 13 and Mill St, the driver side-swiped a vehicle and continued northbound. A separate Smyrna Police Officer was pulled over on the shoulder of US 13 in the area of Mt Vernon St. This SPD officer had an unrelated DUI suspect detained in the rear of their vehicle. The pickup truck, still fleeing northbound drifted off the roadway and struck the parked SPD unit, pushing the SPD car off the shoulder and into a yard. The pickup came to a rest in the median of US 13. It’s driver, identified as Paul Reed, 62 of Smyrna had to be extricated from his truck. The Smyrna Police Officer in the struck vehicle was entrapped and had to be removed with assistance from Citizen’s Hose Company members. His detainee was able to free himself from the damaged vehicle. Mr. Reed, the Smyrna Police Officer and the detainee were all transported to area hospitals for treatment of minor injuries. Upon his release from the hospital, Mr. Reed will be arraigned on the following charges:

5th offense DUI

Disregarding a Police Officers signal

Possession of ammunition by a person prohibited

3 counts of Reckless Endangering 2nd degree

2 counts of Vehicular Assault 2nd degree

28 other traffic offenses

The Smyrna Police Department would like to thank Citizen’s Hose Co, Clayton Fire Company, Ambulance 64 and Kent County Paramedics for their swift response and aid to our injured officer.