NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) — Two Newport officers were involved in a highway crash last week while transporting a new special response van back from Florida. The officers were driving the van back to Newport from its manufacturer in St. Augustine on Tuesday when it was side-swiped by a tractor-trailer in North Carolina. "We are extremely grateful that our officers were unharmed," Newport Police Chief Ryan Duffy said. Duffy said a North Carolina officer driving behind the trailer captured the incident on dashcam. "We were very lucky that there was an officer right there," Duffy said. "It goes to show that you can be doing everything right, as these officers were doing ... and sometimes these bad things just happen." RELATED: Newport police van damaged from crash in North Carolina Duffy said it was the armored van, which is bulletproof and weighs 9,000 pounds, that saved the officers' lives. "We use this van to deliver officers to high-risk situations and to rescue citizens who are caught within a high-risk situation," Duffy explained. "We are able to get them out without exposure to gunfire." The nearly $143,000 van would've been a huge asset for the city, and although it was heavily damaged in the crash, it might not be a total loss. "It's just delayed for right now," he said. "The vehicle is in North Carolina where the accident happened." Both officers involved in the crash have since returned to Rhode Island. Duffy said the department plans to submit a request for another van once the insurance claim has cleared. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW