Whitpain Township Police Officer Injured In Crash

By Al Novack

WHITPAIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) - A Whitpain Township, Montgomery County police officer was treated and released in good condition following an early Tuesday morning crash.

Authorities say Officer Steve Nickel, 36, was responding to a burglary in progress along North Wales Road when his cruiser went out of control and struck a utility pole on Route 202 and Morris Road.

Police say Officer Nickel, an 11-year-veteran, was found trapped and injured in the wreckage. He was extricated by fire rescue crews from the Centre Square Fire Company and taken to The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Whitpain Chief of Police Mark Smith says Officer Nickel suffered minor head injuries and is expected to fully recover.

As for the burglary he had responded to, other Whitpain officers arrested a juvenile at the scene of the burglary.

Morris Road was closed for several hours due to downed electrical wires and debris on the roadway.