Patrol car drenched in oil

By Lou Michel Buffalo News Staff Reporter Photo by Buffalo News

Published:September 21, 2010, 2:58 PM

A Buffalo police officer narrowly missed getting drenched in motor oil this afternoon when the oil line burst in a truck that was beside her parked patrol car, authorities said.

Central District Officer Sherry Holtz had just stepped from her patrol car at 1:15 p.m. on the southwest corner of Church and Franklin streets and was walking into Police Headquarters when the mishap occurred.

Oil from the truck's engine had suddenly started splattering all over the patrol car and, to make matters worse, the police car's windows were open, allowing oil to drench the interior.

An extensive response by firefighters and other police officers to control traffic and clean up the mess at the busy downtown intersection was continuing.

Holtz would only smile when she was asked if she felt lucky.

"The department is thankful that our officer is OK and that no one else in the area was injured," said police spokesman Michael J. DeGeorge.

Holtz came to headquarters to fill out arrest paperwork after dropping off a shoplifting suspect at the nearby Erie County Holding Center on Delaware Avenue.

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