A car accident that occurred on Route 46 on April 19 left a Bergen County Police Officer with life-threatening injuries. According to the report, the crash was caused by a 36-year-old male teacher at Lodi High School.
At approximately 1:50 a.m., the 39-year-old police officer pulled up next to another police vehicle to aid a fellow officer. The report stated that he was driving a marked police SUV, and the vehicle’s emergency lights were activated. The driver of a 2012 Ford Fusion then suddenly rear-ended the SUV. The collision caused the officer to be trapped in his vehicle, and he had to be extricated by emergency crews. The injured officer was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center where he immediately had surgery to fix a skull fracture.
The Ford driver was removed from his vehicle by the other officer at the scene, but he then fled on foot. He was later picked up by another police officer. The teacher suffered minor injuries in the collision and was admitted to the hospital for treatment. He was taken into police custody later that day and was charged with aggravated assault and leaving the scene of a crash, among other offenses. Authorities stated that he was believed to be under the influence of alcohol at the time the car accident occurred.
Someone who suffers serious injuries in an auto accident caused by a drunk driver may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against that driver in an effort to seek compensation for any costs associated with the injury, including the cost of surgeries. Additionally, the officer may also be able to seek compensation for income he lost from being unable to work.
Source: NorthJersey.com, “Bergen County cop fights for life after rear-ending of his cruiser”, Mary Diduch and Colleen Diskin, April 20, 2014