Two Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers were transported to the hospital after two crashes, stemming from one police chase left them injured Friday morning.
The events leading up to the incident began on Thursday afternoon when an officer from the Hickory Grove division tried to stop a man for speeding near the intersection of Sharon Amity Road and Shamrock Drive. The man stopped, but then put his pickup truck in reverse, ramming into the front of the officer’s patrol car. A chase ensued, ending at a dead end on Michigan Avenue.
The officer believed that the suspect was going to run so he exited his patrol car. It was at that time the suspect reversed his truck once again into the officer’s patrol car, attempting to hit the officer while he was out of his vehicle. The officer fired two shots after the man attempted to hit him. The officer was injured and transported to Carolina Medical Center for treatment.
The suspect fled the scene after hitting the officer, heading inbound on the Plaza.
An officer in the North Tryon division heading outbound on the Plaza responded to calls for backup from the injured officer. When the second officer approached the suspect’s truck, the man intentionally veered into oncoming traffic, crashing head-on into the second officers patrol car. The man was speeding at approximately 60 miles per hour at the time of the collision.
The crash trapped the second officer in his car. The car was completely mangled and became completely engulfed in flames while the officer remained trapped. Firefighters were forced to use the Jaws of Life to remove the entire roof of the patrol car to reach the injured officer and pull him to safety.
The suspect and the second police officer was rushed to CMC. Witnesses described the collision as being “extremely violent.”
According to police, there are warrants for the suspect for assault for a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon on a government officer and fleeing to elude arrest. The suspect will also be charged with driving while intoxicated.
Police officers and emergency personnel face peril on a daily basis on America’s roads and highways. There presence, although intimidating at times, is crucial for the safety of all road users. If you are pulling over on the side of the highway, no matter what the reason, whether you are a police officer or citizen, you should practice extreme caution and awareness of your surroundings. The most obvious concern is that you are visible to passing drivers. Also, be sure that you pull off to the ride side of the road as far as possible and turn on your hazard lights. Use emergency triangles or flares to alert drivers as you attend to your situation.
When you or someone you love has been involved in a serious accident, the Car Accident Attorneys of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower can be there to assist you on your path to recovery. We can investigate all aspects of the accident and hold all parties accountable for your loss. Call us at 704-499-9000 or 877-374-5999 toll-free.