On March 16, 2018, an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer and another driver were involved in a violent crash on the city’s west side. The IMPD officer was responding to a hold-up alarm and had the emergency lights and sirens of his vehicle activated, but the vehicle was still struck by a vehicle that was approaching an intersection. The IMPD stated that the officer had followed proper emergency protocol when entering the intersection. This means that the intersections are closed lane by lane and making sure there is no oncoming traffic before going through. The first responders at the scene of the collision stated that intersections are the most dangerous areas for them when responding to emergencies. Distracted drivers are the most common offenders, especially when they are on their cell phones and ignoring oncoming emergency vehicles. Loud music makes it difficult for drivers to hear sirens and horns from emergency vehicles when they get close, and some drivers have gone over curbs to quickly to get out of the way. These First Responders state that when you see lights and sirens approaching, the proper protocol is to get into the far-right lane, creating space for the first responders. During rush hour traffic, first responders, emergency medical services, police, and/or firefighters have to maneuver through a dangerous puzzle to get to the scene of an emergency, and in some cases, they may have to approach the intersection via the oncoming traffic lanes, which makes veering to the right even more important. After the crash, the first responders are encouraging the public to pay even more attention to the roads. The IMPD are still investigating the crash.

It is important to always be aware of any sound or sight outside of your vehicle, especially flashing lights and blaring sirens. If you see a police officer, firefighter, or other emergency services vehicle drive by do you know what to do? If you or someone you know is involved in an automobile collision caused by the reckless driving of another please contact the experienced legal team at Schiller Law Offices at 888-578-3100 or at IndyInjured.com to learn more about your potential right to compensation.

Source:
https://fox59.com/2018/03/15/police-investigate-after-woman-struck-killed-on-indys-west-side/