Pennsylvania police officer on leave after car accident

An off-duty police officer has been placed on unpaid administrative leave during an investigation into a fatal car crash in which he was allegedly involved, according to officials. The Pennsylvania police officer has not been officially charged regarding the car accident that killed a 69-year-old woman earlier in May. The investigation is still underway as of this report.

Details about the accident are sparse as the investigation has only just begun, but it appears the officer’s cruiser collided with another vehicle on Route 209. The woman, a passenger in the vehicle, was apparently killed in the crash. Her husband — the driver — suffered injuries but managed to survive. It is unknown whether the officer suffered any injuries in the accident.

Pennsylvania authorities decided to place the officer on unpaid administrative leave while the investigation is completed, but the officer has yet to be charged with a crime. Police have not commented on whether they believe the officer is in fact responsible for causing the accident, nor have they speculated on whether alcohol or reckless driving contributed to the crash. As of this writing, the officer’s unpaid leave is indefinite.

In a car accident in which an officer of the law may have been involved, it is doubly important for Pennsylvania authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into its cause. If it is determined the officer was responsible in any meaningful way for the accident, it is possible he will be removed from his position and face criminal charges. Additionally, the family of the deceased passenger, as well as the surviving driver, may choose to file civil suits for wrongful death and personal injury against the officer and any other party with an ownership interest in the vehicle he was operating a the time of the collision.

This blog entry was posted on behalf of [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″], and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the firm or its attorneys. The information presented in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice.

Source: newstimes.com, “Police officer involved in fatal crash on leave”, , May 29, 2014