Recently, a north Texas police officer chose to resign after she was involved in a pedestrian accident. Corporal Jennifer Chavez was driving out of the parking lot in front of police headquarters in Colleyville when she hit two pedestrians.
She had stopped at the stop sign, but then pushed the gas and hit the couple who were crossing the street. Iryna and Oleh Krutko were on an evening walk when the accident occurred. A dashcam from another officer’s car shows Chavez trying to help Iryna who was on the ground.
The couple’s attorney stated that the officer was not going to an emergency call, but she was most likely distracted from looking at her cruiser’s computer screen. In a written statement Chavez said she was going 10 to 15 m.p.h. when she was making her left turn. She tried to hit the brakes, but couldn’t stop in time.
The pedestrians who were hit are still recovering from their injuries and are seeking compensation for their medical bills. They want the police department to reanalyze their policies concerning distraction caused by police cruiser computers.
The Fort Worth Police Department is one city that has changed its policy, which now states, “Officers shall not type on the MDC (mobile data computer) when the vehicle is in motion unless an exigent circumstance exists requiring immediate action.”
Pedestrian accidents are common, but shouldn’t be. If you were the victim of a Texas pedestrian accident, you should contact Crowe Arnold & Majors, LLP today. We will help you get the justice you deserve.
