Pedestrian in North Carolina becomes car accident victim

Police officers are supposed to keep people safe, but on occasion, they become involved in accidents that can cause the people they were sworn to protect serious injury or even death. This is the case of a pedestrian that became a car accident victim when a police cruiser from the Cherokee Indian Police Department struck him and another man. The investigation into the accident is being handled by the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

The police cruiser involved in the accident reportedly only had one working headlight at the time of the accident. The officer was turning in order to pursue a vehicle when he hit the two men. It is thus far presumed that it was because of the headlight that was out that the officer did not see the men.

One of the men died in the accident. The other survived the accident, was taken to the hospital for treatment, and was released. The officer has been placed on administrative leave as the investigation is conducted. The department has said it will fully cooperate with the North Carolina Highway Patrol. It has been reported that troopers will be conducting interviews, examining the patrol car, and doing an accident reconstruction as part of their investigation.

The family of the deceased car accident victim may use the evidence gathered from that investigation in a wrongful death claim. The information may be offered as evidence of negligence to the officer and the department for not properly maintaining the vehicle. If the family members were to prevail in their claim, they could be awarded monetary damages sustained as a result of the loss of their loved one.

Source: citizen-times.com, Pedestrian killed by a patrol car in Cherokee, No author, Oct. 10, 2013