Automobile collisions are not uncommon, even in these days of heightened safety awareness. As a Maryland auto accident attorney, I and my colleagues read of people being hurt in car and commercial truck crashes more often than one would expect. Although civilians are exposed to potential traffic hazards on a fairly regular basis, there is no argument that police officers on daily patrol face similar dangers almost continuously during their entire work day.
While car and truck collisions can be serious, the occupants are relatively well protected when compared to a person on foot or on a bicycle. Of course, the result of a car-pedestrian crash is never good for the person on foot. Broken bones, head trauma and neck or spinal injuries are quite common. Internal injuries, cuts and bruises are also typical in accidents involving people crossing roads and walking near traffic.
Not too long ago, a news article mentioned that two police officers were hurt in separate traffic accidents on the same day. According to reports, both officers were from the St. Mary’s County sheriff’s department and were injured on a Tuesday in unrelated vehicle accidents. Fortunately, both officers survived without severe injury.
The first incident happened to off-duty Corporal Timothy Butler who was traveling on his bicycle along Indian Bridge Rd. when his bicycle was hit be a late model GMC Sierra driven by 63-year-old Terry Dale Blackburn. According to police reports, Butler was flown to the Baltimore Shock Trauma center where he was treated and released. The driver of the truck was not injured and police said the accident was still under investigation with potential charges pending against Blackburn.
The second crash happened to police Sergeant Harold Young along Pegg Road. According to news articles, Young was driving eastbound in a Ford Crown Victoria when a Ford Explorer, driven by 26-year-old Carlton Baldwin failed to yield the right-of-way and subsequently collided with Young’s car.
Young was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital by ambulance where he was treated and released. Baldwin, who was uninjured in the crash, was issued a citation for failure to yield.
Motorists Injure Two Deputies in Two Separate Accidents, SoMD.com, September 22, 2010