A captain with the Louisiana State Police has been arrested following an off-duty DWI crash with a police cruiser

Trooper Lt. Jared L. Sandifer said shortly after 3:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop A responded to a three-vehicle crash in Baton Rouge. The crash occurred as 53-year-old Belinda Murphy, an off-duty Louisiana State Police Captain, operated a 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe southbound on Plank Road.

Sandifer said a fully marked Baton Rouge Police Department Dodge Charger and a Toyota Prius were making a left turn from Harding Boulevard to proceed southbound on Plank Road when the accident occurred.

“For reasons still under investigation, Murphy disregarded a red light at the intersection, resulting in her Tahoe striking the Charger, which then collided with the Prius,” Sandifer said.

Murphy was transported to a local hospital along with the other drivers for treatment of minor-moderate injuries. Upon contact with investigating troopers, Murphy displayed signs of impairment and voluntarily submitted a toxicology sample, the results of which are pending.

As a result of the investigation, she was placed into custody and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of operating a vehicle while impaired, first offense; two counts vehicle negligent injuring; and traffic-control signals.

Murphy has been employed with the Louisiana State Police since 2001 and is assigned to the Louisiana State Police Special Investigations Division. Murphy has been placed on administrative leave with all law enforcement property recovered pending the conclusion of the criminal and administrative investigations.