An officer with the Fairview Park Police Department responded to a four-vehicle wreck in Ohio. He wound up getting hit by a fifth car while at the scene.
The crash happened out on Interstate 480 on Jan. 17, 2018, a Wednesday. The calls came in right around 9 in the morning, telling police of a four-car crash. Multiple officers were dispatched to respond. The crash was close to West 220th Street.
When they arrived, officers began talking to the people who were in those four cars, and they also helped to move those vehicles out of the travel lanes. The goal there was simply to clear the lanes for other traffic and prevent secondary accidents. When they were done, tow trucks were called and the officers decided to wait with the drivers. The cars were on the berm on the right side of the road, though one officer was on the outside edge.
As they waited, a fifth car lost control as it drove in the eastbound lanes. It went off of the right side of the interstate and slammed into two of the cars from the original wreck. It also hit that officer who was closest to traffic.
Reports indicate that the officer’s injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, though he or she — the department has opted not to identify the officer at this time — was taken to Fairview General Hospital.
When winter weather falls on Ohio, the risks increase on highways all over the state. Those who are injured by out-of-control vehicles need to know all of the legal options they may have to seek compensation.
Source: Cleveland 19, “Fairview Park officer hit by a car on I-480,” Jan. 17, 2018