SEAFORD, Del.- A Seaford fire police officer is in the hospital with serious injuries after he was struck by an SUV on Saturday night while directing traffic.
Delaware State Police said the 86-year-old officer was directing traffic at the intersection of Cannon and Camp roads when he was hit by 56-year-old William L. Purnell of Birdgeville just before 10:30 p.m.
The officer was wearing a high visibility traffic vest, holding a light up wand, and his police car was parked next to him with the emergency lights on.
According to police, an investigation revealed that Purnell was driving a 2012 Dodge Journey going westbound on Cannon Road and approaching Camp Road when he failed to see the officer and struck him with his SUV.
The victim, who the Seaford Volunteer Fire Department identified as Capt. Kenneth Tull, was airlifted to Christiana Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
Purnell was not injured as a result of the crash.
Police said an investigation determined that Purnell had been driving under the influence of alcohol and was taken into custody.
He was charged with the following crimes:
- First-degree vehicular assault (felony)
- Driving Under the Influence
- Driving While Suspended
- Inattentive driving
Purnell was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $3,250 cash bond.
