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Officer injured after alleged drunken driver crashes into patrol car

ST. CLOUD, Fla. — Authorities in St. Cloud said a police officer was injured when a drunken driver crashed into his patrol car Saturday night.

The crash happened around 10:45 p.m. on Old Canoe Creek Road near Neptune Road. Police said the officer was traveling north on Old Canoe Creek Road when he was hit by another vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, 49-year-old Richard Nielsen, fled the scene following the crash, police said. Officers were able to stop Nielsen in the area and he was taken into custody.

The St. Cloud officer, who hasn't been identified, was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The officer has since been released from the hospital.

Nielsen was also taken to the hospital and will be booked into the Osceola County Jail. He's being charged with DUI with serious injury, DUI with property damage, and fleeing and eluding.