Two Auburn police cars, one with lights flashing and siren keening, collided at the intersection of East Main and A Street Southeast Monday evening while responding to an emergency call at nearby Auburn Regional Medical Center.

The accident, which totaled one vehicle and heavily damaged the other, briefly sent one officer to ARMC for treatment of minor injuries. The other officers were treated at the scene and released.

According to Police Sgt. Scott Near, officer Michael Funke was westbound on East Main at 9:21 p.m. responding to the report of a disruptive person in ARMC’s emergency room. Officer Andy Clapp was in the passenger seat.

Funke was approaching the intersection on a red light with his emergency equipment activated. He slowed down to see if the way was clear. At that moment, officer Chris Mast, northbound on A Street Southeast, entered the intersection and struck Funke’s patrol car on the driver’s side. Mast’s emergency equipment was off because he had the green light.

“Officer Funke was crossing the intersection against a red light and was still on field training,” Near said. “Officer Clapp, his field training officer, was in the passenger seat. Officer Mast had less than two years experience.”

Near said internal investigations on such accidents are standard procedure.

“When an officer goes against a red light with emergency equipment on, he or she is pretty much responsible for the crossing,” Near said. “Internal investigations hold people accountable for their actions.”