Officer hospitalized after teen who was 'doing doughnuts' in car hits unmarked patrol vehicle: police

A Vancouver police officer suffered spine and head injuries after a car carrying "joy-riding teens" hit his unmarked patrol car early Monday, according to police.

The officer and his partner were passing through the intersection at Kingsway and Tyne Street when they were hit by the car at about 3:40 a.m., according to Sgt. Steve Addison.

The officers were in the area responding to an unrelated 911 call, Addison said.

Addison says the 16-year-old driver of the car was "doing doughnuts"making their car spin in tight circlesin a parking lot adjacent to the collision.

"What we believe at this point is that they were doing doughnuts in the parking lot and then peeled out into traffic," Addison said in an interview.

Police say the teen's vehicle caught fire followingthe crash.The teen, who did not have a licenceand did not own the car, was taken into custody.

The officer is currently hospitalized. His partner was also taken to hospital with less serious injuries but has since been released.

The driver and two passengers, also teenagers, are not injured, according to police.

The driver is facing several charges, including driving without a licence and dangerous driving.