POLICE CAR STRUCK IN RHODE ISLAND CRASH

An on-duty Columbia police officer suffered a broken toe yesterday when his patrol car was struck from the rear as it was stopped in traffic on Providence Road at the intersection of Research Park Drive. Columbia police said that Officer William Lee, 33, was stopped at about 1:30 p.m. on southbound Providence when a flatbed tow truck driven by Anthony Sapp, 26, of Columbia collided with him from behind. The impact shoved the patrol car into the rear of a vehicle driven by Mary C. Garrett, 55, of Columbia.

Sapp was uninjured, police said. Garrett complained of soreness to her back and neck and said she would go to a hospital for a medical check.

No traffic citation had been issued by late this morning. Moriarity said investigators were determining whether the tow truck’s brakes malfunctioned before deciding whether to issue a summons.