Durham police K9 officer struck, injured in drunk driving crash involving alleged repeat offender

Thursday, December 30, 2021
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Durham police officer is recovering in the hospital after a suspected drunk driver crashed into his patrol car Wednesday night.

Officer B.K. Gardner was driving his patrol car on Guess Road just before 11 p.m. when he collided with a truck pulling out from a stop sign.
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In a news release, Durham investigators said Byron Cinto-Lopez got out of the truck and ran away, but officers caught him a short while later.

Cinto-Lopez was arrested and charged with driving while impaired, felony hit-and-run, aggravated felony serious injury by vehicle, driving while license revoked for DWI and failure to yield right of way.
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Gardner was taken to the hospital but investigators said his injuries are not life-threatening. His K9 Choco was not in the car with him at the time of the crash.

Cinto-Lopez was not injured in the crash. He in jail on a $7,500 bond.
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