Innocent Driver Hurt in Lexington Police Pursuit

Police pursuits are dangerous affairs that often end up in a car accident.

And in one out of 10 chases, it is an innocent party who is hurt or killed.

That was the case July 9, when a driver in a stolen car sped through the streets of Lexington with the police on his tail. He eventually hit an SUV and smashed into a utility pole.

The incident began when a State Police officer following up a stolen vehicle report took off after a man driving a gold Acura SUV down South Broadway, according to Kentucky.com. The driver sped up to escape and continued speeding down Pine Street even after the officer stopped the pursuit. The man ran three stop signs before colliding with an SUV and careening into a utility pole.

Both drivers were taken to the hospital with injuries.

A study in California found that nearly a third of police pursuits in Los Angeles ended with traffic collisions, and two-thirds of those crashes resulted in somebody being hurt or killed.

In one out of 10 cases, the victim was an innocent bystander or motorist.

Tips for Avoiding a Kentucky Police Pursuit Crash

• Be careful at intersections. Come to a complete stop and look both ways before proceeding.
• Minimize distractions. Talking on the phone or listening to loud music can block out warning sirens or horns.
• Pull over. If you see flashing lights or hear the sound of emergency vehicles, pull over as soon as it is safe to do so.
• Get legal help. Contact a Kentucky personal injury attorney if you are hurt in an accident that was the result of a police pursuit.

Sources:

• Kentucky.com http://www.kentucky.com/2013/07/09/2709266/violent-wreck-at-pine-street-and.html
• KNBC News 4 Southern California http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/One-Quarter-of-Police-pursuits-End-With-Injuries–210033161.html