An off-duty Philadelphia police officer was arrested in connection with a multi-car crash that shut down three of four lanes on I-95 Saturday morning.
The crash happened at approximately 3:45 a.m. near the Girard Avenue exit in the northbound lanes. Two Pennsylvania State Police troopers, Matthew Sheeran and Michael Sadowski, were at the scene, investigating an abandoned vehicle that was blocking the right lane of travel.
A Philadelphia Parking Authority tow truck was also at the scene. The tow operator, Will Kane, started hooking the car to the truck when a 2007 Toyota Corolla, reportedly traveling in the center right lane and driven by off-duty officer Matthew Sharkey, swerved to the right, over a flare pattern the troopers had set out, and hit back of the troopers' car, which was parked behind the abandoned vehicle for safety reasons.
The patrol car was then pushed forward into the abandoned vehicle, pinning Sheeran between the two cars.
Kane then crawled from under the abandoned vehicle and pulled the tow truck foward to free Sheeran, who was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital, along with Sadowski and the tow operator.
Sheeran is in guarded/stable condition with a leg fracture, officials told NBCPhiladelphia. Sadowski, who sustained abrasions and lacerations due to debris, was treated and released. Kane, who sustained moderate contusions, lacerations, and abrasions, is still being treated.
Pennsylvania State Police said they held Sharkey, 23, for suspicion of DUI of alcohol and/or controlled substances and also tested him for those substances.
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Sharkey, who joined the Philadelphia Police Department on Feb. 12, 2007 and is assigned to the 17th District, was treated at Hahnemann for minor injuries and released.
Sharkey had four passengers in this car, ranging from 19 to 23 years old. They all had minor injuries, according to police.
The scene of the accident was cleared and all lanes were opened by approximately 7 a.m.
Pennsylvania State Police are still investigating the accident and any witnesses are asked to contact them at 215-560-6220.
