Pelham police are warning against impaired driving after a series of crashes left several people, including a Pelham police officer, seriously injured over the holiday weekend.

Pelham Police Chief Brent Sugg said officer Elizabeth Minter was attending to a crash on Interstate 65 southbound shortly after midnight early Saturday when she was “knocked out of her boots” by a speeding vehicle.

The driver had ignored traffic control vests and emergency lights and was going about 80 mph, Sugg said during a news conference Saturday. The driver was taken into custody shortly after the crash.

Minter was quickly attended to by local officers and firefighters and transported to UAB Hospital. She is currently conscious and alert, Sugg said, but has multiple injuries and likely faces “a long road to recovery.”

“She is struggling right now. Her family is struggling. Our department is struggling, because this young officer was just simply doing her job,” Sugg said.

Sugg said Pelham has been dealing with a “significant” number of impaired driving incidents over the holiday weekend, including at least two other crashes that likely involved drugs and alcohol.

Before she was struck, Minter and two other officers were at the scene of a three-vehicle wreck caused by a driver going the wrong way on the interstate at a high speed.

Occupants were injured and transferred to a local hospital, but authorities did not provide any additional information. Both collisions are being investigated by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

“This series of events deserves a response from all first responders reminding people to enjoy an excellent weekend celebrating the independence of this great nation, but we need to do so responsibly,” Sugg said. “Put your phone down, be responsible with your use of alcohol, avoid any illegal substances, use rideshare services and slow down.”

“All of these events had one thing in common and that was drugs and alcohol,” he added. “Today it was our family that was impacted. Tomorrow it may be your family. You need to hold yourself and others accountable, so law enforcement will not have to hold you accountable.”

The Minter family has set up a GoFundMe page, and the Pelham Police Department is also accepting donations to go toward the officer’s recovery.