A Jacksonville police officer, who claimed he was responding to a burglary call at 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 20, was critically injured in a multi-vehicle crash that also injured several children. The Florida Times-Union reports the officer was driving west on West Beaver Street when a Pontiac Grand Prix, driven by a 30-year-old woman from Jacksonville, turned left from Line Street. She hit the patrol car, causing it to slide on the road where it was hit by an eastbound Pontiac Vibe that was carrying five children. School papers littered the street and the 34-year-old driver of the Vibe suffered serious injuries. Only one of the five children was wearing a seat belt but they all suffered only minor injuries. The Vibe was crushed by the collision and the front hood and trunk of the patrol car were torn open.
The officer was ejected from his patrol car. According to the FHP, he was not wearing a seat belt. He is recovering in Shands Jacksonville. The female driver of the Grand Prix and a child with her were not injured. They wore their seat belts. A witness said the officer was driving at least 60 mph and did not have on his lights and sirens. According to an FHP spokesman, other witnesses said the lights were on.
It’s estimated there are about 70,000 police chases each year that result in 400 to 500 deaths. Pursuit Watch is a nonprofit organization formed in Orlando by the family of a young woman killed in a police pursuit in 2001. The group estimates that 40% of all police chases end in a collision and 20 percent result in serious injury with 1 percent having a fatal outcome. The group has worked with the Orlando police department to encourage safer and smarter police pursuits.
No matter what type of collision leads to your injuries, the Jacksonville car accident lawyers at Farah & Farah are here to assist you. Call our law offices today to learn how we can help you obtain the compensation you need from negligent parties to go on with your life.
