Blaine police officer injured in crash on New Year’s Eve

A Blaine police officer who was attempting to make a u-turn on a Blaine highway was injured after his car was hit by another vehicle Sunday afternoon, according to a Washington State Patrol news release.

Officer Michael Munden, 47, of Blaine, was taken to St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham with minor injuries as a precaution, the news release indicated.

Around 2:30 p.m., Munden was driving a fully-marked 2008 Dodge Charger police car northbound on state Route 543 at Boblett Street in the left-hand lane. Kenneth Wu, of Delta, B.C., was driving a 1996 minivan in the same lane.

Munden changed into the right-hand lane and while attempting to make a u-turn was struck by Wu, according to the release.

Both vehicles were totaled.

Blaine Police Lt. Ryan King said Munden’s lights were activated and he was making a u-turn to pull someone over.

King said citations will be determined once the Washington State Patrol finishes its investigation, which is expected to take about a week.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The speed limit on state Route 543 is 40 mph south of H Street. Once north of H Street, the speed limit is reduced to 25 mph, King said.

King said photos, as well as a dashboard camera footage from the police car will be released once the investigation is completed.

Washington State Patrol had no further information.

This story was originally published January 3, 2018 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Blaine police officer injured in crash on New Year’s Eve."