N.J. Officer in Critical Condition After Accident

A south New Jersey police officer was critically injured when his car collided with an SUV Wednesday night.

Deptford Township Officer Gary Wurst was in surgery much of Thursday as doctors worked to reduce brain swelling.

Official reports say that Wurst was driving southbound at about 11:30 p.m. returning to the police station when an SUV driven by Andrea Patton, 19, struck his patrol car in the driver's side door. The impact pushed the patrol car into a tree.

Patton's leg was injured in the collision. Doctors have put screws in Wurst's arm and a rod in his leg.

Both drivers were wearing seatbelts.