Van Buren Co. deputy pinned between cars

Fri, Jul 3, 2009

DECATUR (AP) — A Van Buren County Sheriff's deputy who stopped a car early today was pinned against his patrol car when another suspected drunk driver plowed into him on the side of the road.

After the traffic stop in Decatur just before 2 a.m., Deputy Matt Konkle went to retrieve a breath test kit from the trunk of his patrol car when another car slammed into him, pinning him between both vehicles.

Konkle was taken to a hospital in Paw Paw with leg and other injuries, but was expected this morning to be released later today.

The driver of the car that hit the officer is a 26-year-old Dowagiac man. He was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.