Emergency workers urge caution after deputy struck and killed

This is sad.

I know I always slow down and move over. I have been passed on the right by many 4 wheelers who shake the squad car. Some of them seem to be in a big hurry for some reason.

I also am volunteer fire fighter, paramedic and have been almost hit on many accident scenes.

 

It happened to me......

I was a Police Officer working an accident on a 4 lane highway going through town. 10:30 AM, low traffic, roadway had been cleared. I was standing in the MEDIAN out of the lane of traffic, writing on a clipboard, when some guy who was passing through and rubber-necking veered into the median and struck me going over 45 MPH. Needless to say, I was bounced down the road like a ragdoll, and by all means, shouldn't be here now, or at least be in a wheel chair or something. Stayed "floored up" for about a year and went back to work, but was still hurting and had difficulties doing the job at that time. Took a medical retirement. I'm pretty much back to being 100%, but there are times when I can still feel it. Like in the morning when I first wake up.

 

Yes, even if there is no "move over law" in your state or the state you are in, plain common sense says that you slow down, move over and really pay attention to where you are driving..

But we all know that common sense died about the time of cell phones, fast food, newspapers, stereos and the like came into existance.

A sad fact of life that motorists do not pay attention at all, and that causes loss of lives...

We as tow truck drivers lose on the average 60 drivers a year to traffic deaths on scenes of accidents and breakdowns... We have even created a memorial called " wall of the fallen" at the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in Chattanooga Tennessee..

Personally, I do not want to be included on the "wall" and yes I have had my share of being bumped, but so far nothing real serious.

 

I've been employing that kind of common sense as well.

My wife and I have this unwritten rule that I must not drive and talk on the cellphone at the same time. She has made it clear that if I am caught driving and talking on it at the same time, it is a divorceable offense. We've both seen too many instances where someone was driving and talking and their attention was on the phone (and not on the road).

Not to mention that I don't feel like going to jail because I killed a trooper while both of us were on the job.

 

Even if there is such a law, i don't think very many people know about it.