If you don't want to know what happened in the June 8th crash near Wonder Lake involving two on-duty deputies of the McHenry County Sheriff's Department, be sure to read the Crash Report. Yes, that's right. Only if you don't want to know what happened... If you DO want to know what happened, you are going to have to get the information somewhere else.
The driver of Unit 1 (usually the at-fault driver) was Deputy Jon Heideman. Unit 2's driver was Deputy Nicole Laskowski. Here's what the report said:
"Driver, Unit 1, stated that he had been travelling N/B E. Wonder Lake Road, south of Chipawa (sic) Drive, behind Driver, Unit 2, when he thought Driver, Unit 2, was pulling to the east shoulder of E. Wonder Lake Road at Chipawa Drive. Driver, Unit 1, explained that he drove towards the center of the roadway to pass and a collision occurred.
"Driver, Unit 2, stated that she was travelling N/B E. Wonder Lake Road by Chipawa Drive. Driver, Unit 2, stated that she was attempting to make a left turn onto Chipawa Drive. Driver, Unit 2, said that she was halfway making her turn when she was struck by Driver, Unit 1.
"Both units were towed by DeCraene's Service to the sheriff's garage lot. Accident location is E. Wonder Lake Road at Chipawa Drive, but GPS location did not plot location correctly."
Who wrote the report? Deputy #1579. According to a clerk at the Records Department, that's Sgt. Campos-Cruz.
Man alive.... where to start???
First of all, no wonder that the GPS location wouldn't plot. It's not Chipawa. It's Chippewa!
If any rookie deputy had written that report, his supervisor would have torn it up right in front of him and told him to go, sit in the corner, and do it over. OK, I know; reports are prepared electronically. Kind of hard to tear up and start over.
The phrase "when a collision occurred" is used when a driver wants to avoid admitting that he caused the crash. If the crash was your fault, you never want to say so. Keep it general. Don't admit fault.
Only in a report involving two deputies and written by a supervisor would you find such a load of B.S. This was a classic case where you call the Illinois State Police to investigate; yet Sgt. Campos-Cruz investigated the crash and wrote the report. At least, his name is on it. Why didn't he call the Illinois State Police?
One of the drivers was at fault. Can you tell which one? Which driver should have been ticketed? Was either driver ticketed? No!
Would a non-law-enforcement driver have been ticketed? Absolutely!
Notice what's missing from the report. Speeds of both vehicles as they approached Chippewa Drive. Driving pattern as they drove north on E. Wonder Lake Road. Were they "playing"? Was Driver-Unit 1 tailgating Unit 2? Did the driver of Unit 2 signal her intention to turn left? What did Driver Unit 2 say about her approach to her left turn? Did she pull to the right, as if to let Unit 1 pass? Did she slow sharply before turning left? What was the angle of the vehicles at the point-of-impact, rather than where the vehicles came to rest?
What about the traffic law prohibiting passing through an intersection? Driver-Unit 1 certainly violated that law.
How did Heideman's car "strike" Laskowski's car, as she says? The report says the damage to Laskowski's car was across the front, with the center of the vehicle being the point of first contact. That's impossible, unless she was at a right angle to Heideman's car. The fact that her car hit his car does not necessary make her at fault.
No wonder there is an internal investigation, but I wonder what it's really about. And how much damage is "More than $1,500"?
There is no reason to pick on deputies and insist that they be ticketed if they cause a crash, just because they are deputies. But they should not be excused from ticketing, just because they are deputies. And that's what happened here.
Contributory causes of the crash were 1) improper overtaking/passing (that would be Heideman) and 2) "failure to yield right-of-way". Now who would that be? The report fails to address or explain this.
When a deputy causes a crash, then fairness demands that a ticket be issued.
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3 comments:
Gus, is it possible that when the call was 'dispatched' that Deputy Jon Heideman, Unit # 1's driver was the 'lead' unit responding, and then Unit 2's driver which was Deputy Nicole Laskowski, was acting as 'backup' to Deputy Jon Heideman?
Then, if given the scenario I've painted above, Deputy Heidman 'may have had' a 'reasonable expectation' that his fellow respondent, Deputy Laskowski, driving Unit #2 was going to 'break aside' allowing the "Main Unit respondent," via dispatch, Deputy Heidman to 'go ahead' of Deputy Laskowski..( simply as a matter of courtesy and in the natural course of the 'chain of repsondents' order?)
However, unfortunatly, this accident occured as result of an innocent misreading of what the two deputies had been thinking the other was going to do?
These men and women are out there, as all police officers are, and have to make decisions on the 'fly.'
So I think we need to allow for 'human' results to happen, let the insurance company settle the bills and move on.
Thank God neither Deputy or any civilians were injured.
Often times, the simplist explaination is the way things indeed REALLY do happened!
Just something to think about.
Thank you.
Dave Bachmann
Excellent point, Dave. The report doesn't indicate that they were responding to a call. Your possibility raises a good question.
But if she did pull over, then why did she turn left as he passed?
I've often seen "country right" turns, but I can't remember anyone ever making a "country left" in front of me. Know what I mean by a "country right turn" (or is that a Missouri term)?
I understand your point Gus.. It's obvious Deputy Heidman did not know Deputy Laskowski,was thinking.
He "might" have asssumed she was going to block traffic so he coud turn left without stopping to wait for any oncoming traffic to stop first, rather, Deputy Laskowski continued with her intended path.
Assuming anothers 'intent' can make for all kinds of problems...Especially when cars, speed and adrenalin are involved.
Who knows I was not there. My point is that there could well be a very innocent explaination.
I've met some really good Deputies while I was living in McHenry County and I want them to know they are appreciated and citizens for the most part, want to help them and protect them as well.
Lessons learned? I pray they are.
Thanks again Gus for the opportunity by allowing and helping us consider and voice 'options' for things that happen.
Dave
PS. How can we get 'google' to put 'Spell Check' on the comment boards....
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