The Boston Police Department reports putting C-11 Lt. John Earley on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into a crash early Wednesday involving his personal vehicle and a backhoe removing snow at Spring and Baker streets in West Roxbury.

According to police, around 2:35 a.m., a Nissan pickup collided with the backhoe and suffered major damage.

"After the crash the operator of the Nissan abandoned his damaged vehicle in the roadway and left the scene without making himself known to the backhoe operator. The initial investigation indicated that the operator of the Nissan may have been an off-duty Boston police lieutenant.

"Upon further investigation the owner of the Nissan, Boston Police Lieutenant John Earley assigned to District C-11 (Dorchester), was placed on Administrative Leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation. Earley is charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Property Damage. The operator of the backhoe was not injured and the Nissan was impounded by the Boston Police Department."

Both BPD's anti-corruption division and the Suffolk County District Attorney's office are investigating the incident.