The incident occurred shortly before 3 a.m., when the troopers pulled over 29-year-old Andre Bowman of Gowanda along Old Lake Shore Road. As Bowman and his two passengers were being questioned, the patrol car was struck by a vehicle driven by 24-year-old John Hamm, also of Gowanda.

Police said, at the time of the collision, one trooper and Bowman were inside the patrol car, while the other trooper was standing near the rear passenger side of the patrol car with the two passengers, Jaqualine Jimmerson and Jeffrey Halftown.

Reacting to the incoming vehicle, both Jimmerson and Halftown reportedly stepped away and fell backwards into a ditch running along the road. They were taken to Lakeshore Hospital in Irving and later released.

Bowman and Hamm were charged with driving while intoxicated. Hamm was additionally charged with violating the state’s Move Over Law, which requires drivers to move over when police or emergency vehicles are parked with sirens on the side of the road.

John Hamm, left, and Andre Bowman

Both are scheduled to appear in Brant Court at a later date.