Newly released dashcam footage from a Connecticut police cruiser shows the shocking moment an ATV crashed into the officer’s vehicle. The accident occurred in New Haven on April 27 in an area where motorized vehicles are banned.
The 19-year-old driver of the ATV allegedly lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the police cruiser head-on. He was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries.
Although the area where the accident occurred is for pedestrians only, many people allegedly operate motorized vehicles such as ATVs and dirt bikes there, WSFA reported. Even though the footage seems alarming, New Haven police say the officer driving the cruiser followed proper protocol.
More from CafeMom: Kids Saved, But Mom Dies While Pinned Underwater During Tragic ATV Outing With Her Family
The incident reportedly occurred in a pedestrian-only area.
WSFA reported that the accident happened around 3:40 p.m. Sunday. The street was closed to motorized vehicles in 2020, but police were allegedly called to the area with reports of people illegally operating dirt bikes and ATVs.
Per police via WSFA, “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.”
An officer reportedly noticed an ATV traveling quickly.
Dashcam footage shows the cruiser traveling down the road, and various pedestrians and bike riders are seen passing by. At one point, the officer in the cruiser appears to notice the ATV traveling at a high rate of speed and crosses over, apparently hoping to slow him down.
“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,” police noted in a release.
The ATV crashed into the police cruiser.
The driver of the ATV hit the cruiser head-on and caused a high-impact crash. He was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.
New Haven resident Olivia Brinks told WSFA the area is dangerous for people who are walking. “It’s obvious that they’re going too fast, and they shouldn’t be on the pedestrian roads in the first place,” she said.
According to police, the officer acted appropriately.
New Haven Chief of Police Karl Jacobson released a statement obtained by WSFA.
“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 harm’s way. While we’re 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,” Jacobson said.
Although the video received backlash online, Jacobson assured the public the officer had his cruiser’s lights on and that he did the right thing.
“They hear an ATV coming in their direction, they move over to the left side as a way to shield the people behind them,” Jacobson added. “The officer wasn’t traveling at any speed when the incident happened and then the officer also gave an area of egress, meaning they could’ve gotten around the police car.”
More from CafeMom: Paralyzed & Pregnant Bride Walks Down the Aisle at Her Wedding — Beating All of the Odds
The driver of the ATV will face charges.
Because the area prohibits motor vehicles, the driver of the ATV will face charges. Jacobson said he hopes the driver fully recovers, and police intend to increase patrols in the area.
“We need to make sure the people, who are a large amount of people who walk and bike in that area, are safe, so you will see more patrols going forward,” Jacobson said, according to WSFA.
