NORTHAMPTON — A Hadley police officer directing traffic around construction in downtown Northampton Thursday morning was struck by a car.
Northampton Police Lt. Craig Kirouac said an officer working a traffic detail at the intersection of Main and King streets was struck by a car making a left turn from Pleasant Street onto Main Street around 9:05 a.m.
The officer, who was wearing a neon green traffic jacket, suffered an injury to his right wrist and was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Kirouac said. Hadley Police Sgt. Ken Hartwright said the officer suffered a sprained wrist and was treated and released Thursday. Both Kirouac and Hartwright declined to identify the officer.
The driver of the vehicle, a 57-year-old man from Athol, was cited for failure to use care in turning, which is a civil infraction, Kirouac said. A witness told police it appeared that the driver took the turn too sharply. The officer was among some traffic cones.
Columbia Gas is installing new gas lines on Pleasant Street near Main Street and Kirkland Avenue. The construction will take place the next couple of weeks between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.
In its weekly construction update from May 14, the city cautioned that motorists should expect delays and seek alternate routes if possible.
The project is part of the gas company’s modernization program which aims to replace cast iron and unprotected bar steel pipe, according to company spokeswoman Andrea Luppi. The work is in conjunction with the city’s paving program, she said.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettnet.com.