Investigation Determined Driver Lost Consciousness

SitNews ^ | June 14, 2008 | Ketchikan Police Department

[skeptoid]

SNIP . . on June 8, 2008 at approximately 0003 hours the Ketchikan Police Department received multiple 911 calls of a patrol vehicle, which had crashed by the Stedman Street Bridge and was now in the water in Thomas Basin. SNIP. . . .Sgt. Townsend regained consciousness after the vehicle came to a stop and started sinking. He was unable to open the door or window of his patrol vehicle and fired one round of his service weapon to break out the glass in the driver's door.

[skeptoid]

Chuck Pool of Pool Engineering lifts the KPD vehicle from the water at Thomas Basin
to be loaded on a tow truck. Photograph by Jim Lewis

[dragnet2]

Investigation Determined Driver Lost Consciousness

He might have been using a cell phone. They'll pull the phone records and check. It was reported he lost consciousness. Could be an excuse for just not paying attention, and losing total control of the vehicle. Happens all the time.

[skeptoid]

The CRASH, yeah.

But how often does a police officer have to SHOOT his way out of his SINKING vehicle.

[Captain Rhino]

Or he was sleep deprived.

Or he is an undiagnosed diabetic.

[BfloGuy]

Based on witness statements the patrol vehicle was driving from Mill Street onto Stedman Street when it swerved behind the Federal Building, drove through the parking lot and broke through a concrete barricade. The vehicle fell approximately 14 feet into the water.

Lesson: never let a patrol vehicle drive itself. You never know what mischief it will get up to.

[whipitgood]

HAHA, especially if the vehicle is an SUV...