Driver Collides with Four Other Vehicles While Fleeing Police in Richland County, South Carolina (SC)

RICHLAND COUNTY, SC- Wltx.com writes that a driver who was fleeing law enforcement caused a severe crash this week in Richland County. The incident occurred in the evening when a 23-year-old male driver attempted to get away from police officers in a 2013 Kia. While driving on Trotter Road, the suspect drifted into oncoming traffic where he struck another vehicle.*

The young man then traveled onto Padgett Road, where he collided with the rear-end of a 2019 Honda, pushing that car into a 2013 Buick. The impact caused the Kia to overturn and strike a 2004 Chevy pickup truck.Following the multiple-vehicle wreck, the driver in the Kia, a passenger in that car, and the person in the Chevy were all transported to nearby hospitals with injuries. Reports did not indicate the condition of any of those individuals. Police are still investigating the incident. 

Many people oppose police chases as a regular practice. In many cases, officers are pursuing people suspected of only a minor infraction, and the results of the chase can be devastating and deadly. Police departments do work to train officers on how to properly conduct a pursuit. Law enforcement facilities have courses designed for teaching officers how to carry out cornering maneuvers and other high-speed moves. 

Despite their training on how to conduct a chase, officers still must decide whether the pursuit is worth the inevitable risks. The decision will involve the nature of the crime and the risks to the public posed by the road conditions. In some cases, departments have strict guidelines dictating when an officer may engage in a chase, and the patrol officer may have to request approval from his supervisor before pursuing the suspect. 

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.wltx.com/article/news/crime/vehicle-hit-four-others-overturned-evading-richland-county-deputies/101-4e0a3b8f-4eec-4edf-978e-8c22f5f743c7

https://people.howstuffworks.com/police-chase.htm

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