State trooper killed in crash

[Gitaroo Man]

http://www.9wsyr.com/mediacenter/def...video.wixt.com

CN:Trooper sees cyclists doing a 100+ (estimated) going the other way and flips a U-turn in his SUV to chase him and crashes a few miles down the road doing 50mph into a tree trying to catch him.

So, do you think the motorcyclist is at fault for the troopers death or not?

[WaffleBaron]

Personally I would blame the tree. What kind of call was the trooper initially responding to? Must not have been very important if a speeder can distract him.

[wanna-b-ballin']

its the cops fault. he lost controll. he didn't have to take a u turn at 50 mph. i understand it was in chase, but still, you have to know how to drive your own car.

[Steelrat]

The motorcyclist is at fault for speeding and several other infractions, but I can't see how he is responsible for the death of the officer, especially if he didn't even know the officer was in pursuit.

That being said, they should nail the cyclist for every offense they can. 120 is just stupid and irresponsible.

[fire1811]

Its reasons like this and putting citizens at risk that most police agencies around the US are not chasing anymore. Why put yourself at risk and god knows how many citizens for a busted tail light or whatever the case may be.

The motorcyclist IMO is at fault here and should be charged. If he would have followed the laws there would have been no chase.

[Gitaroo Man]

Yeah but the trooper should have realized he couldn't safely catch up to the cyclists without wrecklessly driving on roads like that let alone in an SUV which can't handle stuff like that.

[gimp]

That sucks. Hate to see a cop go. The motorcyclist should get in trouble for reckless driving, but he isn't responsible for the officers death. I bet the officer realized he was low on gas, saw the prices and just decided to drive into a tree.

[Glickman]

Its reasons like this and putting citizens at risk that most police agencies around the US are not chasing anymore. Why put yourself at risk and god knows how many citizens for a busted tail light or whatever the case may be.

The motorcyclist IMO is at fault here and should be charged. If he would have followed the laws there would have been no chase.

"there would have been" will never hold up in court though


police officers are supposed to use discretion of when or when to not chase, to me, this is both just a case of unfortunate happenings and possibly poor decisions.

[PyRo]

The motorcyclist is at fault for speeding and several other infractions, but I can't see how he is responsible for the death of the officer, especially if he didn't even know the officer was in pursuit.

That being said, they should nail the cyclist for every offense they can. 120 is just stupid and irresponsible.

In NY the motorcyclist would be guilty of felony murder and try as he might he wouldn't be getting out of it.
Felony murder is any death that occurs as a result of a felony such as fleeing from an officer.

For example their was one case in NYC where a guy held up a bank. An officer on the other side of the City who shouldn't have responded because of the distance did and was killed in a traffic accident. The person holding up the bank was tried for and found guilty of felony murder in addition to armed robbery.

In my opinion this is an excellent law. If someone is committing a felony and someone dies as a result of it regaurdless of the cause of death they should be held accountable.

[-Tab]

its the cops fault. he lost controll. he didn't have to take a u turn at 50 mph. i understand it was in chase, but still, you have to know how to drive your own car.

Who said he made a u-turn at 50 MPH? It stated he crashed into the tree at a speed of 50 MPH.
Don't blame him for not being able to drive his car until you have your information straight.

Edit: I totally agree with Pyro.

[wad04]

pyro is right here, he'll be charged with a felony murder.

[Steelrat]

In NY the motorcyclist would be guilty of felony murder and try as he might he wouldn't be getting out of it.
Felony murder is any death that occurs as a result of a felony such as fleeing from an officer.

For example their was one case in NYC where a guy held up a bank. An officer on the other side of the City who shouldn't have responded because of the distance did and was killed in a traffic accident. The person holding up the bank was tried for and found guilty of felony murder in addition to armed robbery.

In my opinion this is an excellent law. If someone is committing a felony and someone dies as a result of it regaurdless of the cause of death they should be held accountable.

The debate is going to be whether or not he was "fleeing the officer." If he was doing over 100, and the offier was at 50, its tough to say if he even knew he was being pursued until he saw all the media surrounding the death of the officer.

EDIT: I guess he DID know. Or at least the DA has enough evidence to prove he did.

Since Sunday night State Police Investigators have been attempting to locate the operator of the motorcycle, largely through the efforts of witnesses and the cooperation of the local community. On Wednesday, Carncross was interviewed by State Police Investigators concerning his possible involvement in the incident. That interview, in conjunction with additional information obtained through the investigation, lead to his arrest this morning under the direction of Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, for 1 count of Aggravated Criminally Negligent Homicide and 1 count of Aggravated Manslaughter 2nd Degree

[BeaverEater]

i dont think the cyclist is at fault at all for the crash. Granted from the sounds of it the cop never even caught up to him to even call the cyclist fleeing. Plus most cops usually dont even bother with chasing a cycle because they will almost never catch him, EVER.

Plus they probably cant charge the cyclist with anything cause from the sounds of it, he was never caught. To catch up with a cycle doing 120 the opposite direction is almost impossible in an SUV.

[Destructo6]

$10 says the officer wasn't wearing a seatbelt as per policy. SOP, sadly, for law enforcement.

[grEnAlEins]

Plus they probably cant charge the cyclist with anything cause from the sounds of it, he was never caught. To catch up with a cycle doing 120 the opposite direction is almost impossible in an SUV.

See the post just above yours, a suspect has been charged.