Officer Struck by Drunk Driver While Making a U-Turn, Police Say

A South Jersey police officer was hospitalized after being hit by a pickup truck early Friday morning, and the truck driver is believed to have been drinking, police say.

Elk Police said Special Officer Jacob Custis was making a U-turn on Buck Road in order to respond to an emergency call regarding an intoxicated person around 1 a.m. when he was hit on the passenger side by a pickup driven by William Derr, 29, of Mickelton.

A sample of Derr's blood was taken, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. It initially said charges were pending, but New Jersey Advance Media reports Derr was later charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and an open container violation.

Custis was taken to Cooper Medical Center in Camden to be treated, and was released after an examination, the prosecutor's office said. Both drivers were alone in their respective vehicles and no other vehicles were involved.

The prosecutor's office said Derr was not injured.