Arlington police officer injured in crash released from hospital to recover at home
An Arlington police officer who suffered serious injuries after a car crashed into the group of four people riding bicycles was released from the hospital on Thursday.
Alan Branch and other parishioners of Arlington’s Lake Church were cycling on the Dottie Lynn Parkway in Fort Worth on Aug. 28 when a car struck them from behind, police said. One of the riders, Steven Dennis Cannon, 57, of Arlington, was killed in the crash. The other two people suffered cuts and bruises.
A post on the Arlington Police Department’s Facebook page shows Branch in a wheelchair surrounded by his police officer co-workers and family. The post says that Branch has been released from the hospital and rehabilitation facility and is leaving with his family to continue recuperating at home.
Branch, an 11-year police veteran who’s part of the Crimes Against Children Unit, “underwent a few surgeries” on Aug. 28 that “went as expected according to family,” Lt. Christopher Cook told the Star-Telegram at the time.
Police say to the best of their knowledge, Branch will not require any additional surgeries, only follow-up outpatient care.
“While he’s been at the hospital, several of his co-workers have taken it upon themselves to help out around his house, doing yardwork and building a ramp that will make it easier for him to get in and out of his house while he recovers,” Tim Ciesco, Arlington police spokesman, said.
The driver who hit the group of cyclists stayed on the scene and wasn’t believed to be under the influence of alcohol, according to Fort Worth police. He wasn’t facing any charges.
Dispatchers received the first call around 6:30 a.m. reporting the crash on the Dottie Lynn Parkway bridge, which runs over West Division Street, police said. Responding officers were able to determine the driver had run into the four cyclists from behind.
Cannon was pronounced dead on the scene, police said. Branch, who was alert and conscious, was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital.
This story includes information from Star-Telegram archives.
This story was originally published September 18, 2020 at 9:26 AM.
