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Related: About this forumVideo shows ATV rider crash into New Haven police cruiser
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Footage released Wednesday afternoon shows an ATV rider crash into a New Haven police cruiser.
By Evan Sobol
Published: May. 1, 2024 at 3:55 PM EDT | Updated: May. 1, 2024 at 10:57 PM EDT
NEW HAVEN, CT (WFSB) Footage released Wednesday afternoon shows an ATV rider crash into a New Haven police cruiser. ... Authorities said the crash happened around 3:40 p.m. Sunday on Farnum Drive. ... Police were addressing complaints of people illegally operating dirt bikes and ATVs in the city. ... Officers responded to the area of East Rock Park on the reports of a group congregating there and used Farnam Drive to access the park, said New Haven police. ... Farnum Drive has been open to just pedestrian traffic since 2020. A large number of people, including families with children, were in the area.
Officers noticed an ATV rider going down the road at a high rate of speed toward the pedestrians, police said. ... The officers slowed the cruiser and angled it to protect the families and pedestrians they had just passed while providing a point of egress to the side of them for the oncoming ATV to pass the cruiser, said police. ... Authorities said the ATV rider lost control and hit the front passenger side window of the police cruiser.
Its obvious that theyre going too fast and they shouldnt be on the pedestrian roads in the first place, said Olivia Brinks, New Haven. ... They [the ATV] didnt have control over stopping the vehicle. If something was in the way, that couldve been a person too, said Casey Wizner, New Haven. ... The ATV rider was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. ... Residents in New Haven say dirt bikes are a common sight on a path theyre not supposed to be on. ... They drive pretty fast, it seems like theyre racing or just playing around, but it feels a little dangerous.
This is an unfortunate and stark reminder of the extreme dangers of illegal ATV and dirt bike riding on city streets, both for pedestrians and the operators of the vehicles themselves. Our police officers engaged in a potentially life-saving maneuver on behalf of this family that was in harms way. While were glad the family was protected from harm, what happened to the driver is tragic, and we hope for his complete and speedy recovery and we urge the public not to engage in this type of activity.
-- New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson
While the video has received backlash on social media, Chief Jacobson said the cruisers lights were on and the officers handled the situation the right way. ... They hear an ATV coming in their direction, they move over to the left side as a way to shield the people behind them, Chief Jacobson said. The officer wasnt traveling at any speed when the incident happened and then the officer also gave an area of egress, meaning they couldve gotten around the police car.
{snip}
Here's an excerpt of the video taken from the dash cam. This is without the station's added comentary.
WFSB 3
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DASHCAM VIDEO: ATV rider crashes into New Haven police cruiser (Credit: New Haven Police Department)
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brush
(56,167 posts)and pulled directly into the path of another vehicle on a two-lane road. The ATV didn't have chance to do anything but swerve to his left to avoid a direct head-on collision.
He was lucky he wasn't killed.
It's questionable to me as to whether the cop did the right thing. It's a clearly marked, two lane road.
2naSalit
(90,507 posts)Non-motorized vehicle path at the entrances too. It has been a FOOTPATH where bicycles are allowed, not ATVs for over 20 years.
I think they got what they deserved. Cop was following protocol.
brush
(56,167 posts)I still thing pulling in front of a moving vehicle with no chance for the vehicle to stop is questionable.
And "getting what he deserved"? Are you serious? He could've been killed. The cop could've blasted his siren, flashed his lights, got on his loudspeaker yelling halt.
2naSalit
(90,507 posts)The cruiser lights were on. The rider was there illegally and knew it, didn't intend to stop or slow down.
This is a big problem on many footpaths around the country. Idiots who take their ATVs on them and ride that fast are asking for such an event, this one's wish was granted. Around here we call them road lice.
brush
(56,167 posts)he didn't intend to stop of slow down. One thing we do know is having a police cruiser pull directly in his/her path is the last thing the rider wanted or expected to see on a two-lane road...you call it a footpath. Sure looks like a two-lane road for traffic in both directions to me.
No one should want to see someone get badly hurt or even killed because they may have been unaware of a posted sign.
Rough crowd here.
2naSalit
(90,507 posts)3Hotdogs
(13,089 posts)he probably couldn't have stopped from hitting the pedestrians.
---Cop did the right thing.
Prof. Toru Tanaka
(2,191 posts)And if there were signs posted saying ATVs were not allowed, then the ATV driver is in the wrong. And that ATV was flying along, I am sorry that he crashed but I agree that there could have been a tragic accident with the pedestrians.
There is a problem in my town with crotch rocket motorcycles and occasionally ATVs traveling at high rates of speed on a busy highway (two lanes each direction) near our home. They can be a real nuisance sometimes, especially later at night.
sl8
(16,127 posts)It looks like it was closed to motor vehicles during the pandemic and, last year, the mayor said he was keeping it closed.
https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/new-haven/road-closures-in-east-rock-park-in-new-haven-encourage-social-distancing/
https://www.newhavenindependent.org/article/east_rock_road_summit
As to your larger point, I agree.
mahatmakanejeeves
(59,613 posts)The operator of the ATV was putting pedestrians, cyclists, inline skaters, dogwalkers, etc. at risk.
Even when the road was open to motorized vehicles, that meant registered vehicles only, not off-road vehicles such as ATVs.
And good morning.
brush
(56,167 posts)Maybe the ATV didn't know. I still think the cop could've done something other than move his cruiser directly into the path of the moving ATV on a clearly marked two-lane road....like blasting his siren, flashing his lights and getting on his loudspeaker and yelling halt.
The last thing a driver expects or wants to see is a car moving directly into his/her path.
Luckily the AFV rider wasn't killed.
mahatmakanejeeves
(59,613 posts)2naSalit
(90,507 posts)Don't feel sorry for the asshole, not one bit. ATV riders seem to think they can get away with riding in restricted areas all the time and if they crash into something, anything, while illegally riding on a footpath, fuck 'em. Looks more like karma to me.
brush
(56,167 posts)3Hotdogs
(13,089 posts)They ruin the trails. The wheels pitch up sugar sand and create gulleys and mounds that are difficult to hike over.
Cops put some effort into stopping them but it is useless.
3Hotdogs
(13,089 posts)Then it hilarious."
mahatmakanejeeves
(59,613 posts)ATV rider injured after crashing into New Haven police cruiser protecting pedestrians, officials say
By Matthew P. Knox,
Staff Writer
April 30, 2024
NEW HAVEN An person illegally riding an ATV through East Rock Park Sunday was seriously injured when they crashed into a police cruiser protecting pedestrians, according to police. ... Police said the officer was assigned to detail focused on addressing ongoing complaints of illegal and reckless drivers in the city. They responded to the area of East Rock Park around 3:40 p.m. with reports that a group of riders was congregating there, police said.
The officer entered the park using Farnam Drive, which is only for pedestrian traffic, and came across an ATV driving on the road at a high rate of speed as many pedestrians, including families with children, walked in the vicinity, according to police. ... To protect the pedestrians, the officer slowed down and angled their cruiser to block them, while giving the ATV room to go around the cruiser. However, the ATV rider lost control and struck the front passenger-side window of the cruiser, police said. ... Officers immediately called for medical assistance, and the ATV rider was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, according to police.
{snip}
Earlier in April, a city police officer was seriously injured after being struck by an ATV illegally riding on the street. ... New Haven police Officer Christian Bruckhart, a spokesperson for the department, said at the time that the officer was trying to stop a group of ATVs riding through the streets when he was struck by one of the operators. The officer suffered a broken leg and was said to be recovering, according to officials.
April 30, 2024
Matthew P. Knox
BREAKING NEWS REPORTER
Matt is a breaking news reporter for the Hearst Connecticut Media Group. He formerly covered crime and courts for the Journal Inquirer, from 2016 until the JI was acquired by Hearst in 2023.