A Fairfax County police officer has been charged with reckless driving after he hit a car, seriously injuring a man, while speeding 68 mph without his cruiser’s lights or sirens on.

Officer Pshko Siteki was responding to a disorderly conduct call about 10:30 a.m. Feb. 18 when he crashed into a minivan turning from Leesburg Pike to Patrick Henry Drive in Falls Church, police said.

Siteki, who has been with the department for two years, was speeding 68 mph in a 40-mph zone but did not have his emergency equipment on, according to police.

Both he and the 53-year-old man driving the minivan were taken to a hospital. The civilian received extensive injuries and, five months later, is still recovering.

Siteki was served a summons on Tuesday and placed on paid leave pending a court appearance, Police Chief Edwin Roessler announced Tuesday.

“We take the safety of our officers and members of this community very seriously,” Roessler said in a statement. “That is why an Internal Affairs investigation was quickly launched to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident.”

The officer’s police cruiser had a video system, but the video was destroyed in the crash.

Siteki is due in court in September.

Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/