NEWTON –A police officer was injured while responding to an injury accident on Thursday morning in Newton.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Jimmy L. Bethards was injured when the Chevy Tahoe he was driving southbound on Main Street approaching 1st street with the lights and siren activated was hit by an eastbound Lincoln Town Car driven by Tyler N. Thacker, 21, Newton.

The Town Car failed to yield to the emergency lights and entered the intersection due to a green traffic light.

In addition to the police vehicle, the Town Car struck a 2001 Ford F250 that was stopped at a red traffic light facing northbound on Main Street.  The truck driver Richard D. Lowe, 65, Newton was not injured.

Thacker refused transport for treatment.

Bethards was transported to Newton Medical Center.  Newton Police Lt. Scott Powell confirmed Bethards was treated and released from the hospital.