Car Strikes Police Officer on Gossett Drive in Williamston, South Carolina
WILLIAMSTON, SC- Wspa.com writes that a vehicle struck a police officer on Gossett Drive earlier this week. The crash occurred in the early morning on Gossett Road close to First Street. The incident took place when the officer was responding to an earlier single-vehicle collision.*
The vehicle that struck the officer was an SUV. Responders transported the officer to the hospital and stated that he was conscious at the time.
Police officers are more at risk of being injured or killed in traffic incidents than in violent attacks. Studies show car crashes and pedestrian incidents are the leading cause of officer death in most years. In 2016, firearms killed more police than car crashes, but that year was considered an anomaly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) writes that over a ten-year period, at least one officer died in a vehicle accident each week.
When officers respond to the scene of a crash, they are often working close to the flow of traffic. This puts police in a risky position, and secondary crashes often occur that can kill first responders working at the scene of an earlier accident.
Driving also presents risks because police often travel to the sites of emergencies. In response to the reports that indicate driving is one of the riskier parts of police work, some say officers need to slow down. Many of the accidents occur when there is no actual emergency. More than half of the incidents happened when police were responding to “officer needs assistance” calls. Officers are also advised to use their seatbelts. Like anyone traveling in a car, failing to use a seatbelt creates a greater risk of injuries and death.
Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes. To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.
Sources:https://www.wspa.com/news/accidents/dispatch-williamston-police-officer-hit-by-vehicle-on-gossett-dr/ and https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/leo/default.html and https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/29/politics/police-traffic-deaths-national-law-enforcement-officers-memorial-fund/index.html