The Dayton police officer struck on Interstate 75 late Friday night remains hospitalized at Miami Valley Hospital.
- Dayton Police Officer Byron Branch was outside his cruiser Friday night when another car rolled over and struck him.
- A second semi-trailer driver was struck.
- Branch was at the scene of a crash on northbound I-75 near the ramp from westbound U.S. 35 when he was struck.
UPDATE @ 7:50 p.m. (Dec. 23)
In just three days, a GoFundMe account raised nearly half its $50,000 goal to benefit the family of Dayton police rookie Byron Branch, who was seriously wounded when he was struck Dec. 17 while outside his cruiser investigating a crash.
The Dayton Fraternal Order of Police Lodge $ 44 set up the account Tuesday. As of 7:50 p.m., donations totaled $22,516. The Dayton FOP also set up the Officer Byron Branch Fund, which can receive donations through any Key Bank location.
UPDATE @ 3 p.m. (Dec. 20)
Dayton police Chief Richard Biehl showed some footage from Ohio Department of Transportation cameras that showed an angle of the incident.
Biehl said Branch and the second man injured continue to receive medical treatment today.
The recordings Biehl played during an afternoon press conference included 911 audio stating the officer was down.
Dayton police also played cruiser footage from inside Officer Branch’s cruiser.
Branch and the truck driver were stuck within 10 seconds of leaving their vehicles.
UPDATE @ 3:39 p.m. (Dec. 19)
Along with Officer Branch, the driver of a semi-trailer was injured and taken to Miami Valley Hospital.
Officer Branch is assigned to the East Patrol Operations Division at Dayton police, said Chief Richard Biehl. Branch was sworn in as a Dayton police officer April 8, 2016.
“Officer Branch comes from a law enforcement and public service family, his father is retired from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and his mother is still employed by Montgomery County,” Biehl said in a release. “Officer Branch is both a newlywed and new father. He is also an accomplished athlete.”
An account has been established by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #44 to help Officer Branch and his family. The community can donate to the Officer Byron Branch Fund at any Key Bank location.
EARLIER REPORT
The officer is listed in stable condition in the intensive care unit at Miami Valley Hospital, according to Sgt. Kevin Pittl with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.
Police learned Branch was injured when a male driver told dispatchers he hit a police officer after flipping his car on I-75 in Dayton Saturday morning, according to a 911 call.
Immediately after the crash, the man told dispatchers he struck a cruiser and the officer. He said the officer was laying on the ground moving and appeared to be alert, but his condition appeared to quickly deteriorated because the man then said the officer was unable to talk and appeared unconscious.
Branch was unconscious when crews responded, according to Pittl. He had only been on scene about one minute, said Dayton police Chief Richard Biehl.
The police cruiser appears to have minor rear end damage.
