GUILDERLAND — A driver ran a red light on Western Avenue on the evening of July 3 and “turned left into the front end of our police car,” according to Deputy Chief Curtis Cox of the Guilderland Police. 

A Ford Explorer driven by Stacie Leska of Mechanicville was traveling west on Route 20 at 5:30 p.m. and went through a solid red light to turn left onto Route 155, Cox said.  

He explained that on-duty Guilderland Police Officer Todd Roberts, a member of the town’s force since 2011, was headed east on Route 20, “on regular patrol” and had arrived at the intersection when Leska turned left. 

After the two vehicles collided, Cox said, Roberts’s patrol car continued traveling east and came to rest at the intersection’s southeast corner, where a CVS is located.

Both drivers reported some pain on the scene and were taken to area hospitals, according to Cox. 

Roberts went to Albany Medical Center with a head injury and complaints of pain, but “nothing serious,” Cox said; Roberts had not returned to work by Monday but is expected to do so soon. 

Both vehicles sustained heavy damage, the deputy chief said. 

Leska did not show any signs of intoxication, said Cox.

Guilderland Court Clerk Jennifer Stephens said Leska was given two traffic tickets, for passing a red light and failing to yield right-of-way, both infractions. 

A man who answered a phone number listed for Leska said she did not wish to comment.