Police have identified the officer who was injured after being struck by a car this morning. Iowa City Police Sgt. Doug Hart was transported to University Hospitals with non-life threatening injuries, said Iowa City Police Sgt. Troy Kelsay.
Kelsay declined to specify what injuries Hart sustained. Kelsay said Hart remained at the hospital late this morning, but may be released sometime today. "Initial evaluations indicate that he was very fortunate," Kelsay said.
Hart was clearing debris from Muscatine Avenue on the east side of First Avenue just after 9 a.m. when a car made a left-hand turn and struck him. "She hit him hard," said Sarah Drea, 31, of Iowa City, who witnessed the accident. "It was the most terrible thing I've ever seen."
Hart's head hit the car's windshield and he fell to the ground. He was able to radio for help, but wasn't able to give details about the accident. "I could hear him yelling 'I need help. I need help,'" Drea said. Iowa State Patrol is investigating.