IFPD officer hospitalized after crash

An Idaho Falls police officer was hurt when he was rear-ended into a tow truck Friday.

Around 10:20 a.m., Officer Michael Cosens, 49, of Idaho Falls, was in a 2009 Dodge Charger on Yellowstone Highway north of Sunnyside Road. He was stopped with his lights on and was providing traffic control for a tow truck that was removing a vehicle from the road.

Idaho State Police said Makenzi Paoli, 19, of Idaho Falls, was driving north on Yellowstone Highway in a 2009 Kia Spectra. Paoli was distracted and struck the rear of the police car while Cosens sat in the driver’s seat.

Cosens’ car was was pushed into the 2004 Peterbilt tow truck, which was unoccupied at the time.

Cosens was transported by ground ambulance to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Information on the extent of his injuries was also not released, though he is expected to be OK, the Idaho Police Department said.

ISP said Paoli was not wearing a seat belt and was charged with driving without privileges, inattentive driving, fail to provide proof of insurance and possession of marijuana.

ISP is continuing to investigate.