Major Wreck Today w/ Cop Car NOW W/Pics

[Chris G.]

Well I think the Hemi Ram has had it's last ride. I got in a major wreck today with an unmarked police car. He was going through a red light. I was driving through green light and did not see him due to an SUV in the left lane. He hit me directly in my driver's side door and then into my wheel which actually broke off the truck. Honestly it's a miracle we are both not dead. He was going at a pretty good rate of speed also (around 45mph) when we connected.

Here's the odd part. He is NOT a police officer. It was a county car and he is what is called an "UnderSheriff". One person told me he said he was late for an important meeting? Anyway, my head is hurting pretty good right now because it banked off the moulded hand rail that helps you get in the truck, and if I feel bad later I will go to the hospital. Yes I am calling a lawyer and figuring out what's right and wrong about this. Nobody was cited at the scene for anything. It was very awkward being there alone with like 7 County cop cars surrounding their guy and here I was Joe Schmo waiting for them to talk to me. I have 2 witnesses who gladly gave me their info and said to call them. It was a hectic scene at this major intersection.

Any armchair opinions on this? I know you are supposed to yield for on coming emergency vehicles, but at the rate of speed he was doing, there's no way he came to a slow down at the light. Here's a bad drawing of the scene.

I'll try and get pics of the truck tomorrow.

Thanks for listening.

The blue dot is him and I am the red one.

[Ponch ®]

Here's the odd part. He is NOT a police officer. It was a county car and he is what is called an "UnderSheriff". One person told me he said he was late for an important meeting? 

thats bullshit when they (cop or no cop) do that. I've actually seen police cars and fire trucks come flying in through intersections with lights flashing and sirens blasting...and then casually pull in to the drive thru at Burger King.

[Shakey]

Hope you are doing OK Chris.

Don't worry about the truck, you can always get another one with the settlement money.

[Silver R/T]

well maybe government should step in and actually make a law where you can report them. I see it happen here almost weekly. Actually last summer cop t boned a car going through uncontrolled intersection. Im sure he's still got his position too. They get away with too easy.

[tan top]

damn dude you was both lucky   glad you are both ok , i would get my self off to hospital now if i were you, you might have a slight concussion or something , better be safe than sorry.

[derailed]

Glad your ok, weve had a problem here in our county with several of these kids ballin up there sherrifs cars and civilians getting hurt. The whole late for an important meeting thing sounds very questionable to me and I know there not suppose to go sailing through a busy intersection at 45 without slowing down prepared to stop. Sounds like it was his fault but they probably wont see it that way.

[BrianShaughnessy]

Wholey crap...  Glad you're in one piece!    It sucks but that's why they're called accidents.
Hope you're doing OK...  trucks can be replaced.

[Todd Wilson]

The boys in blue will take care of their man. You are screwed. I am sure the paper work didnt get filed the right way. I'd see if a lawyer can pull the radio tapes and call records to make sure he was really on a call somewhere that required that kind of driving. Or was he late for a meeting and using his shiny badge to bust his way thru traffic. I see them turn red lights on all the time to get thru an intersections red light and then turn them off again and cruise in traffic. Usually if you are on the same street they pull in to a parking lot to talk to another copper.


Todd

[TruckDriver]

That totally sucks about the truck, but your still alive and that is way more important then the truck. Hope you get better soon Chris.

[SuBLimE 69]

Here's the odd part. He is NOT a police officer. It was a county car and he is what is called an "UnderSheriff". One person told me he said he was late for an important meeting? 

thats bullshit when they (cop or no cop) do that. I've actually seen police cars and fire trucks come flying in through intersections with lights flashing and sirens blasting...and then casually pull in to the drive thru at Burger King.

Here we go, Start the cop flaming again.  Maybe someone at the F-in Burger King needed help, Maybe the call the were headed to got canceled and that was the best parking lot to turn the fire truck around.....You are prolly the same moron that gets pissed when he sees a Police Car driving over the speed limit with NO LIGHTS on and just draws the conclusion that he is abusing his position.  I hate turning the blue lights on...NO ONE else on the road knows what to do when they see them.  They STOP, merge LEFT, pull into the TURN LANE, do NOTHING, SLAM on the brakes ect..... basically looks like someone stepped on an ant pile.  It's safer for me never to use them until I come to the big intersections or into a larger traffic area and when i clear it turn them off.  Maybe it gives the public the wrong impression.......oh well, to damn bad. While negotiating and approaching that big intersection it's time to slow down and simply take your sweet time so accidents like Burnt's don't occur.  Grow some balls do the job and then I'll listen to you complain about cops until then, F-OFF !  Another armchair quarter back...prolly an F-n California democrate too......

Burnt -  no idea what an "under sheriff" could mean, maybe the Sheriff's bitch boy or secretary...I dunno but if he wasn't a sworn officer and was running lights or lights and siren through an intersection and not even a real cop..........I'd expect to make money during the civilsuit.  Sometimes those things happen and it sucks but like the other fella said, thats why they call it an accident.  

[SuBLimE 69]

The boys in blue will take care of their man. You are screwed. I am sure the paper work didnt get filed the right way. I'd see if a lawyer can pull the radio tapes and call records to make sure he was really on a call somewhere that required that kind of driving. Or was he late for a meeting and using his shiny badge to bust his way thru traffic. I see them turn red lights on all the time to get thru an intersections red light and then turn them off again and cruise in traffic. Usually if you are on the same street they pull in to a parking lot to talk to another copper.


Todd

Look another A-hole !  The above thread also applies to you...... 

[Ponch ®]

  Grow some balls do the job and then I'll listen to you complain about cops until then, F-OFF !  Another armchair quarter back...prolly an F-n California democrate too......

Democrat? Not even close.

I'm not saying that there arent legitimate resons for doing it, but I seriously doubt there was an emergency at the drive through.

I'm a big fan of cops, but let's not pretend that they don't do some "non-compliant" stuff every now and then.

[67_Dodge_Charger]

Once again someone that does not agree with some of the comments is letting the foul words fly.  This is what I don't like about some of activity by some of the members on this site.  Play fair or go to some other website.  Do you ever wonder why we have people leaving the site?  This a Dodge Charger fan site???  Hmm.

Sorry to hear about the accident.  Hope everything turns out for you. 

Robert

[Lowprofile]

Forget all the cop bashing/ blame game.........

You need to get to the hospital ASAP.   Get checked out & make sure you're all right. Don't wait. Head injuries don't always show up right away.

After you check out ok, Go get you a "Barracuda" Lawyer and let him loose!

There was an accident here a few years ago just like yours..........come to find out the guy driving the cop car was worker from an upholstery shop returning the car to the station.   

[Chris G.]

Thanks for the well wishes guys. I'm not looking to slam law enforcement here. I mean the guy was very nice about the whole situation. I do however have the cards stacked against me though. According to my insurance company, they say that the county is self insured and they have some sort of "Article 19 or 49 or something" that says they have no liability in accidents. Now I don't know how true that is, but if that's the case then I need to go to court. I am also not looking for some big payday. Yes my head hurts and now my left side is getting sore, but all I really want out of this is for them to pay from my 2003 19K mile truck. I highly doubt they will even consider it, which means not only will I be out a truck for it's book value, but I will need to buy another truck or car which will probably cost me more than what I get from the insurance company. I figure to lose 10K after all is said and done.

Of course all this happens on Friday and Labor Day weekend, so a lawyer will have to wait until Tuesday.

Sucks to be me...

[TheGhost]

Could still be worse.  You could have been more seriously injured, or you could have been driving the Charger at the time.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Cheer up dude, it doesn't suck to be you.......just sucks that you will have to be ridin' in the Geo-tastic-chick magnet-pimp flava-whip now

Main thing is that you're ok enough to call me and give me the heads up on the situation.   Imagine if you were driving the Geo-tastic-chick magnet-pimp flava-whip?  Surely it could have been a lot worse.

Hopefully Ill see ya tomorrow night at the Whiskey....I'll bring my armchair law book & we can study!

PS---make sure you get a new Hemi truck with the same towing capabilities before July 6th

PSS---Sublime, chill out dude

[Todd Wilson]

Here's the odd part. He is NOT a police officer. It was a county car and he is what is called an "UnderSheriff". One person told me he said he was late for an important meeting? 

thats bullshit when they (cop or no cop) do that. I've actually seen police cars and fire trucks come flying in through intersections with lights flashing and sirens blasting...and then casually pull in to the drive thru at Burger King.

Here we go, Start the cop flaming again.  Maybe someone at the F-in Burger King needed help, Maybe the call the were headed to got canceled and that was the best parking lot to turn the fire truck around.....

You are prolly the same moron that gets pissed when he sees a Police Car driving over the speed limit with NO LIGHTS on and just draws the conclusion that he is abusing his position.  I hate turning the blue lights on...NO ONE else on the road knows what to do when they see them.  They STOP, merge LEFT, pull into the TURN LANE, do NOTHING, SLAM on the brakes ect..... basically looks like someone stepped on an ant pile.  It's safer for me never to use them until I come to the big intersections or into a larger traffic area and when i clear it turn them off.  Maybe it gives the public the wrong impression.......oh well, to damn bad. While negotiating and approaching that big intersection it's time to slow down and simply take your sweet time so accidents like Burnt's don't occur.  Grow some balls do the job and then I'll listen to you complain about cops until then, F-OFF !  Another armchair quarter back...prolly an F-n California democrate too......

Sounds like you use your shiny badge alot!


Todd

[NHCharger]

Of course all this happens on Friday and Labor Day weekend, so a lawyer will have to wait until Tuesday.

Sucks to be me...

You do have a head injury. This is Memorial Day weekend.

Glad your OK, could have been worse, could have been driving your Charger.

[firefighter3931]

The boys in blue will take care of their man. You are screwed.

Todd

That is incorrect. Trust me, i drive emergency response vehicles for a living. The responding emergency vehicle be it ambulance, fire truck or police cruiser can go through a red light once it's been established that it is safe to do so.  This does not give emergency vehicles carte blanche to blow through red lights....even with lights and sirens blazing.  Chris, get a copy of the accident report ASAP and go over it. The guy driving that cruiser is screwed if what you're describing is correct. My guess is that they're trying to figure out how to keep you from sueing their asses off at this point. 

Get checked out immediately at the hospital. Often injuries will surface at a later time and you want to protect yourself. Don't sign anything until you've had a lawyer go over it....very important !!!!


Sorry to hear about your truck....that bites. Glad that you're not hurt too bad and that you were driving a Ram and not an econobox....things could have been much worse. 

Lemme know if i can help in any way. 


Ron


Ps. This is not a slam on police officers or any other emergency reponse worker. It is the responsiblity of the operator to operate the vehicle with due care and control. There are poor drivers in every profession (police, fire, ems). The guy driving this police vehicle doesn't sound like he was properly trained. If it goes to court, have your lawyer supoena the driver training records for this individual....if there are any. My guess is that there aren't any and that weighs heavily in your favor. If that's the case, the employer he works for is screwed...along with him !

[hemigeno]

 

Very well said, Ron

Chris, glad you're (mostly) ok, man!  Dealing with the accident stuff can be a pain, and there's no way any lawyer can make everything go back to the way it was before - but I'd say the Sherriff's Dept. will have to try and do right by you.  Be careful in how you deal with them in the meantime.

Hope there's no injuries that you just haven't found out about, either.

Good Luck!!

[Mefirst]

Damn.. that was a hit right in the bulleye... I'm happy your fine, it could have ended up allot worse... I also say go to the hospital and get youself checked out, specially cause you hit your head.. Head trauma can be weird sometimes, it wont show right away.. Get yourself checked out ASAP...

/Tom

[bull]

Glad you're ok, at least as far as you know. Better get yourself checked out though. As many cop cars, ambulances and fire trucks as I've seen going through an intersection I don't believe I've ever seen one not slow down and do a slow rolling check for cross traffic. Not saying that this guy just maintained his speed through the red light but it sounds as if he thinks lights and sirens automatically stop cross traffic like God parting the Red Sea for Moses. Don't most emergency vehicles have that automatic traffic control device now days, the thing that automatically the changes traffic lights of opposing traffic?

[Plumcrazy]

The boys in blue will take care of their man. You are screwed.

Todd

That is incorrect. Trust me, i drive emergency response vehicles for a living. The responding emergency vehicle be it ambulance, fire truck or police cruiser can go through a red light once it's been established that it is safe to do so.  This does not give emergency vehicles carte blanche to blow through red lights....even with lights and sirens blazing. 

That's the first thing they drill into your head when you start driving an emergency vehicle.   

[PURTBOY]

I am a Firefighter in the state of Kentucky, and our law states that while negotiating an intersection and you are faced with a red light, you must slow down enough that any other vehicle can count your lugnuts on your emergency response vehicle! This goes for ambulance, firemen, and cops! this is used to prevent accidents like this! also your vehicle must be able to be seen in a 360 degree radius for the emergency lights! You might check into your local laws on this.

also get 911's tapes as well to see if there was an actual call for this unit to respond! there might have been an extreme emergency for him to get to and that would have to be looked at too!

good luck in your recovery process, and don't hold a grudge against emergency service personal, they are just doing their jobs!!! god bless all who risk their lives each day for the public