Woodbury police officer suffers 'significant injuries' in crash on I-494

WOODBURY, Minn. (KMSP) - A Woodbury police officer is being treated for "significant" injuries after the squad car was rear-ended by a tow truck on Interstate 494 early Friday morning, according to a Woodbury police spokeswoman.

Woodbury Public Information Officer Michelle Okada says just before 2 a.m. the officer was off the road on the median on northbound I-494 at Tamarack Road. A tow truck, which was towing a vehicle, hit the police squad car from behind. According to a State Patrol incident report, the tow truck appeared to drift off the road when it hit the squad car. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

State Patrol identified the officer as 30-year-old Bryan Wagner. Emergency crews took the officer to Regions Hospital. An online incident report listed his injuries as non-life threatening.

The tow truck driver, 45-year-old Joshua Barnhill, also had non-life threatening injuries.

Alcohol is not believed to a be a factor in the crash.

Minnesota State Patrol is handling the case.