IL: Cop In Fatal Crash With SUV On Way To Raid

[Binky]

COP IN FATAL CRASH WITH SUV ON WAY TO RAID

State Reports Driver Never Had A License

A Chicago police lieutenant whose squad car crashed into a SUV Tuesday night, killing a 56-year-old woman and injuring two others, was responding to calls for backup by tactical officers on a drug raid.

The lieutenant, driving a marked squad car east on 63rd Street, entered the intersection on St. Lawrence Avenue with its lights and siren on at 11 p.m., police spokeswoman Monique Bond said. He struck a Chevy Blazer carrying Betty Salters and three other people, including a child.

Salters, of the 5600 block of South Calumet Avenue, was ejected from the vehicle, police said. The driver of the 1989 Blazer, Cameron Jackson, 24, was cited for driving without a license, without insurance and without safety restraints for a child, police said.

Jackson has never had a valid driver's license, according to the Illinois secretary of state's office, but still managed to have numerous moving violations. Because of that, the state created a driving record to document the violations, said Beth Kaufman, a secretary of state spokeswoman.

Kaufman said that Jackson's driving privileges--or his ability to get a driver's license--were currently suspended because he had failed to obtain high-risk insurance, which was required because of the number of moving violations he had.

The major accidents investigation unit was handling the case, and no decisions had been made yet about blame for the accident, police said.

There are no obstructive views at the site of the accident, with open lots on every corner of the intersection where the accident occurred except oneElevated train tracks run overhead along 63rd Street.

A Grand Crossing District tactical team was working a narcotics investigation in a Chicago Housing Authority high-rise at 6217 S. Calumet Ave. and called for immediate backup, prompting the lieutenant to drive to the scene, police said.

The lieutenant was three blocks from the building when the accident happened, police said. Salters was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she was pronounced dead. The lieutenant was treated for minor injuries and released.

Thu, 24 Nov 2005
Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)
Copyright: 2005 Chicago Tribune Company
Contact: ctc-TribLetter@Tribune.com
Website: http://www.chicagotribune.com/

[buddyh]

Hmmmm, the story is already placing blame on the kid. Now I'm not blaming the police.
It was obviously the drug dealers fault for causing there to be a raid in the first place.

[hollowpoint]

buddyh, I'm blaming the police, hands down. I've seen to many accidents caused this way, remember edmonton. when we put on those lights and sirens (we referring to ems/fire/police for which my experience is with ems/fire) it does not give us the right to the road. we have to maintain our vigilance for other drivers because "often" someone will hear the siren and hit the brakes right in front of you. he was supposed to slow, check the intersection and stop if necessary to allow traffic to proceed if they never saw the cop car. they had the light in thier favour and despite this guy not having a licence, he was in the right on this one. we'll never see the cop's inquiry because all the focus will be on this unlicensed driver. there is an attitude that once that siren and light is on, they have the right to the road and everyone better dam well get out of the way, and time after time they get burned. now this happens with fire and ems too, but not near as often, because we train more vigorisly in collision avoidance and obey the rules of the road more stringently. for instance, we had a house rule, you smash into a vehicle while going against a light, it better be the other drivers fault or you will be fired. simple rule, but to date inj 30 yrs of my service there has never been an accident where going against a traffic marker was the fault of the driver. guess that sounds like I am trying to cover up other accidents with legal gobligoop but the accidents we experienced we not in intersections or cross roads but more of sliding off the road on ice etc. the cops need to obey the rules whether they are responding or not, just like every else.

[buddyh]

HP,
I was joking. I was being funny.
Hmmmmmmm, I think that I need to rethink my approach to humor.
No one seemed to get it yesterday.
I was originally going to blame the cops, but I thought that it would be more funny to blame the drug dealers.
BA-DOOM-BA!!!!
Yes I agree with you on the cops being more careful drivers during chases or racing to the scene of something or other. It's just that they get so excited!