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Norfolk, VA (August 5, 2026) – A Norfolk police officer and a civilian were injured on Wednesday morning after a vehicle exiting westbound I-64 onto East Little Creek Road struck the officer’s car, which was responding to a call with lights and sirens activated, according to police. The crash, reported around 7:55 a.m., set off a chain reaction when the first vehicle then struck a second civilian’s car.
The officer and the first civilian driver were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The second driver was not hurt. A nearby business employee who witnessed the aftermath described a chaotic scene, saying she has seen multiple crashes at the same corner over nearly a decade working close by.
Both directions of East Little Creek Road and the I-64 West off-ramp were closed before reopening. The police have not said whether the intersection played a role. The investigation remains ongoing.
We hope the officer and civilian have a full recovery.
Why Do Emergency Vehicles Sometimes Get Struck While Responding to Calls?
Drivers approaching an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens active are expected to yield, but reaction time and awareness vary depending on traffic noise, distractions, or unfamiliarity with the area. A vehicle merging or exiting a highway may be focused on that maneuver and slower to notice an approaching emergency vehicle.
Intersections near highway ramps add extra complexity, since drivers are adjusting speed and lane position at the same time they need to watch for cross traffic. This combination can make it harder to process an additional, unexpected hazard like a responding emergency vehicle.
Repeated crashes at the same location, as described by witnesses here, prompt a closer look at whether the intersection’s design contributes to the pattern. Traffic engineers may examine sightlines, ramp geometry, and signal timing to determine whether changes could reduce the frequency of crashes at a specific spot.
