Florida officer finally arrested for role in car accident

When an accident occurs and the driver who caused the crash disappears, law enforcement will investigate to find the driver and arrest him or her. But the recent arrest of a Seminole County officer raised concerns after it took officials a month to make the arrest.

Though the officer was recently arrested, the car accident occurred earlier last month. The officer’s unmarked patrol car and a motorcycle collided, resulting in a number of injuries to the motorcyclist.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the officer had slowed down in an attempt to avoid hitting an animal that had darted across the street in front of him. It was this sudden decrease in speed that caused the motorcycle behind him to crash into the car, sending the motorcyclist onto the back of the vehicle.

The officer claims that he did not know that he had gotten into an accident and drove off, leaving the injured motorcyclist at the scene of the crash. The motorcyclist sustained several injuries, including two broken wrists.

Investigators found the officer 15 minutes after the accident. The Seminole County Sheriff Department suspended the officer from his duties the day following the mishap. However the officer was not arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident until a month after the incident actually occurred.

An accident can leave victims dealing with a number of physical and financial difficulties. The motorcyclist in this situation likely has expenses from his medical treatment. Medical bills can grow quickly, leaving a victim struggling to recover while figuring out how to stay out of debt. Crash victims should discuss their situation with someone who understands how to seek compensation for accident injuries.

Source: Orlando Sentinel: “Seminole sheriff’s sergeant suspended after arrest in crash,” Susan Jacobson, Oct. 11, 2011