Austin Officer "Fighting for Life" After 18-Wheeler Crash

An Austin police officer was hospitalized early Wednesday with reportedly life-threatening injuries after his patrol vehicle was hit by an 18-wheeler while responding to a call in East Austin.

The officer, who has not been identified, was answering a "priority 1" call at around 2:10 a.m., Austin police PIO Cpl. Destiny Silva said.

As the officer was driving, the 18-wheeler made a u-turn in front of the patrol vehicle, the Statesman reports. The police vehicle and the 18-wheeler collided, Silva said.

The officer and his vehicle were pinned under the 18-wheeler. Police, Austin-Travis County EMS medics and Austin fire officials responded to crash and performed life-saving measures on the officer.

"APD is a family," Silva said. "We have an officer who is part of our family who is at a local hospital right now fighting for his life," she said.