An Austintown Police officer involved in a car accident earlier this evening has been released from the hospital.

Officer Patrick Flara was issuing a warning to a driver for a car light being out when his patrol vehicle was struck from behind by a Dodge pickup truck.

The incident happened around 7:48 p.m. on Kirk Road, near South Meridian Road.

Flara was taken to the hospital for minor injuries and checked out soon after.

The driver of the pickup truck was charged with driving while intoxicated.

This is Officer Flara's first year with the Austintown Police Department.