For a Fallen Officer - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

Turn Key · 12-17-2006, 09:06 AM

This morning, just a couple of hours ago, a Ft. Worth Police officer died. In attempting to help a woman with a flat tire, his cruiser was struck from behind by an oncoming car. Both the cruiser and the car that hit it burst into flames. The officer was pronounced dead while still in his cruiser. The officer's name has not been released as yet but they have said that he leaves a wife and two children.

This happened on I-35, just south of downtown. The road is 5 lanes wide at that point with Sunday morning traffic being near nil. Still, an officer is dead. PLEASE the next time you see those flashing lights on the side of the road, slow down, change lanes, give the guy the room he needs.

campermom · 12-17-2006, 09:32 AM

It amazes me that people don't give anyone on the shoulder enough room. Last year here in San Antonio, on i-35 on the NE side, a car was in flames on the shoulder on the over pass, a good samaritan stopped to help the woman escape her car, another car crashed into the scene and knocked the man over the edge.

Like TK said, give the folks some room. Your efforts to move out of the way are just as helpful.

Shannon · 12-21-2006, 03:35 PM

Meant to comment earlier but then got sidetracked nuking more spam postings (10 today... the spammers go nuts around the holidays because they know a lot of people are travelling and not watching their websites as closely as usual.)

The route I travel most frequently in my daily commute happens to also be the route many emergency vehicles travel, as well as happening to pass in front of a Police substation. The sight lines are good so you can usually spot an ambulance, fire truck or whatnot with ample time to move over, stop or otherwise get-the-heck-outta-the-way, but yet I see people holding up ambulances or forcing full-size ladder fire trucks to try and maneuver around them. Ever since my mother had to be picked up from our home in an ambulance due to a bleeding stomach ulcer (I was only 8 or so years old), I have learned just how crucial a role all emergency vehicles play. Not too long ago, I had to pull off the roadway four separate times as four full-size ladder fire trucks responded to, presumably, the same call. They were spaced out such that you did not know others would be coming, but I always look out for a PD unit or Fire Chief or whatnot after one emergency vehicle has come by, just in case. Sure enough! Nevermind all the drivers I saw continue driving as though they might be able to outrun the units...

Always assume that lives are in jeopardy when you see an emergency vehicle, and always treat parked emergency vehicles (this includes Police cruisers) with a wide berth because in addition to having officers outside of their vehicles at times, you also never know when they may get another call and have to pull an emergency U-turn or whatnot.

So many accidents are anything but... people need to SLOW DOWN, LOOK, PAY ATTENTION and not be so focused on themselves.... especially around this time of year when people are especially stressed, in a hurry or driving in an unfamiliar city.