Houston police chief hits pedestrian downtown (Texas)

Houston Chronicle ^ | 09/04/2013 | James Pinkerton

[TexGrill]

Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland said he accidentally hit a man he didn't see crossing the street Wednesday morning, as the city's top lawman was driving to police headquarters in a city vehicle.

McClelland described the accident as "unnerving," adding the heavy mix of pedestrians and motorists in Houston's busy downtown district is a "very dangerous situation."

The man the chief hit suffered apparently minor injuries to both arms, according to the Houston Police Department.

The accident happened about 8:15 a.m. at the intersection of Clay and Travis, about a block from police headquarters, said HPD spokesman John Cannon. Police have not released the name of the man the chief hit, but union officials predicted the chief would not be prosecuted.

"It was just an accident," McClelland explained. "I made a left turn from Clay onto Travis. I had a green light, and obviously he had a green light to walk across the street, and for whatever reason I didn't see him."

McClelland said that at the time he hit the pedestrian, he was wearing a seat belt, was not talking on a cellphone or texting, and estimated his speed in the city-owned Jeep Cherokee was only a few miles per hour.

"It's very unnerving to strike somebody with a vehicle and know they may receive injuries, so it's not a good way to start a day," McClelland said.

McClelland said he went to check on the accident victim at St. Joseph Hospital several hours after the accident, but the man had been discharged. "I'm not sure about the extent of his injuries, but I'm certainly concerned about him," he said.

His accident, the chief said, should remind residents of the dangers of crossing the busy streets downtown.

[TexGrill]

Global business tip

[shibumi]

I really appreciate the fact that you post a lot of interesting stories.

I am beginning to wonder if you actually read any of them.

Perhaps you could enlighten us as to just how this traffic accident in Houston qualifies as a “Global business tip?”

[Reeses]

The police and their immediate family members are sometimes the worst drivers. They don’t worry about getting tickets. When an off duty police officer gets behind me on a single lane back road they sometimes get outraged they are forced to actually drive the speed limit for a few miles. It’s half the speed they normally drive.

[Pecos]

Maybe he means that if you plan a trip to Houston, you should be on the lookout for police officers who are more worried about themselves than the pedestrians they hit, as in "It's very unnerving to strike somebody with a vehicle and know they may receive injuries, so it's not a good way to start a day," .

[MaxMax]

I always check the sidewalks when making a right turn, and especially a left.
To bad the Chief didn't think about any pedestrians' day instead of his own.

[Nervous Tick]

>> His accident, the chief said, should remind residents of the dangers of crossing the busy streets downtown.

Yeah, it’s the victim’s fault. Or maybe the elite Chief of Police here could take responsibility for his own dxmned actions.

How much you want to bet he was either a) texting or b) talking on his cell phone or c) surfing on that laptop mounted in front of him?

[not2be4gotten.com]

Some animals are more equal than others.

[TexGrill]

“Global business tip” is more like a sign-off and since everything involves money it’s not inaccurate. Occassionally I post a different 1st comments, but only if I can think of something humorous or I see the necessity to editorialize. Normally I focus just on Asia-Pacific stories, but if I have some extra time I start digging for other stories. Here if it’s just a regular cop hitting a pedestrian, not interesting but when Houston’s top cop caused the accident that captures my attention. Since I’m from Texas I occassionally read the Houston Chronicle Website.

[Grams A]

The outcome of this should be quite interesting as the individual he hit was an attorney. He apparently felt he had to go on the record stating on the news that not only did he have his seat belt fastened but he was not texting or talking on his cell phone.

Surprised he didn’t have Quanelle X and Sheila Jackson Lee on the broadcast with him saying what a fine upstanding Chief of Police Houston has.

[william clark]

Having moved to Houston just over a year ago, I’m completely on the side of the cop on this one. Sure, he probably could/should have been more observant, but I have never lived anywhere where pedestrians demonstrate such a disregard for traffic lights and crosswalk signals. Many almost dare you to hit them.

If Houston’s coffers ever start running low, they’ll be able to clean up by issuing jaywalking tickets and such. It’s so bad that and widespread that when I see someone actually waiting for the “walk” signal, I’m tempted to pull over so that I can shake their hand and thank them.

[Reeses]

The outcome of this should be quite interesting as the individual he hit was an attorney.

Since you and I would have gotten a big dollar ticket for pegging a pedestrian in a crosswalk, Chief Charles McClelland should write himself one. I know... will never happen.

[Nervous Tick]

>> the individual he hit was an attorney

HA!!! Oops! Bet he wishes he had a do-over on THAT one!

[JimRed]

He apparently felt he had to go on the record stating on the news that not only did he have his seat belt fastened but he was not texting or talking on his cell phone.

I notice he failed to mention his state of sobriety at the time of the accident...

[Verginius Rufus]

Was the pedestrian given a ticket?