Police officer, driver injured after collision

COLUMBIA — An Columbia police car was hit by another car Monday night in north Columbia while the officer was on-duty. Both drivers were injured and taken to the hospital, according to a police department press release.

Officer Anthony Ash, 32, was travelling westbound on Brown School Road at about 8:30 Monday night when the Crown Victoria police car he was driving was hit by a red Honda driven by Kathleen Braznell, 20, who was travelling southbound on Edenton Road.

Sgt. Timothy Moriarity, a traffic unit supervisor, said it is unclear whether Braznell ignored or failed to yield at the intersection’s two-way stop. Moriarity, who was at the scene after the accident, said no traffic citation was issued to Ash or Braznell.

The police department handles incidents involving officers differently than those involving private citizens.

“There will be an internal review, separate from the actual accident report,” Moriarity said.

Both parties were taken by ambulance to University Hospital. Ash, who was wearing a seat belt at the time, was treated and released. Braznell is still hospitalized and is listed in good condition, a hospital spokesperson said.