The family of Devin Leigh Petelski is suing the Los Angeles Police Department for her California wrongful death. The 25-year-old woman died on October 15, 2009 when her car was hit by a patrol car that was headed to a burglarly site.
At the time of the Los Angeles car accident, police officers James Eldridge and Ramon Vasquez reportedly did not activated their vehicle's sirens and flashing lights--as mandated by police policy when speeding to a 911 call--to let other motorists and pedestrians know that they were rushing to a possible crime scene. They also did not tell dispatchers that they were going to a possible burglary-in-progress and were driving faster than the 40 mph speed limit.
Police officers have a responsibility to drive their vehicles safely even when they are headed to a crime scene, responding to an emergency call, or pursuing a suspect during a high-speed chase. According USA today, about 360 people a year are killed during police pursuits alone. Often, innocent bystanders, including pedestrians and the occupants of other vehicles that happen to be on the road at the time are the ones that are injured.
Traffic laws, pedestrian lanes, traffic signals, and other safety measures are in place to prevent California motor vehicle accidents, injuries, and deaths. The rules of the road don't stop applying just because a police officer has a job to do. Police officers must warn others when they are speeding through roads so that motorists and pedestrians can stay out of their way. Cops also must exercise caution by making sure that they don't accidentally cause pedestrian accidents and auto crashes.
Family and friends blame LAPD for woman's death in Venice crash, Los Angeles Times, November 20, 2009
Deaths lead police to question high-speed chase policies, USA Today, April 23, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Los Angeles Police Department
Wrongful Death Claims, Nolo
