Amarillo police officers injured by drunk driver released from hospital

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - The two Amarillo police officers hit by a drunk driver over the weekend have been released from the hospital.

Amarillo Police Department’s Chief Martin Birkenfeld told NewsChannel 10 on Monday’s episode of The Chat that both officers are doing well.

The officers were injured on January 1 when police say an intoxicated driver crashed into a police car at Amarillo Boulevard and Madison Street.

The driver was identified as 34-year-old Angelo Ramos. Ramos was booked into the Potter County Detention Center on a charge of intoxication assault.

Chief Birkenfeld says these types of accidents are preventable.

“It shouldn’t be acceptable,” said Chief Birkenfeld. “There are so many options now, even more than there were 10, 15 years ago for people to get a ride. And so, you know, you just have to plan ahead, and just don’t do it. It’s that easy to not drink and drive.”

Last year, 28 people died in Amarillo in crashes related to drinking and driving.

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