IL Trooper in Hot Water.

**Beans** · 01-23-08, 04:43 PM

This guy is screwed.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_articl...ZPy+boVrJEA%3D

**MacLean** · 01-23-08, 04:45 PM

126 to a non-injury accident?

Yikes.

**Resident Smart Ass** · 01-23-08, 04:49 PM

That sucks.

We had a similar incident in NJ about a 1 year or 2 ago where a trooper was responding to a call (forgot what the call was) but I believe he blew a stop sign and t-boned a mini-van and I believe 2 teenagers were killed.

Sad all around

**Terminator** · 01-23-08, 04:50 PM

NO call, except helping another LEO who needs emergency assistance, is worth going that fast!

**Resident Smart Ass** · 01-23-08, 04:51 PM

Found the story:
N.J. Trooper Pleads 'Not Guilty' In Deadly Crash

CAPE MAY (AP) ― Since the night her two daughters died in a horrific crash when a state trooper's cruiser plowed into them, Maria Caifa has wanted to meet the man behind the wheel, to see him, to speak with him.

Thursday morning, she got her wish.

Trooper Robert Higbee asked Caifa's lawyer if he could have a brief word with the woman moments after the hearing ended. The two embraced for about 15 seconds and exchanged a few words.

Neither Higbee's lawyer nor Caifa's lawyer would say what was discussed. Higbee did not speak during the arraignment, which lasted approximately three minutes. His lawyer entered a plea of not guilty to two counts of death by auto.

Lewis April, Caifa's lawyer, said she had long wanted to speak to Higbee and was appreciative of the trooper's gesture.

She was too upset to speak to reporters on Thursday, he added.

"She had never seen trooper Higbee. He was the individual who changed her life," April said. "She had always said she wanted to talk to trooper Higbee. This was something she wanted all along -- some kind of response."

The head of the state trooper's union said Higbee is extremely upset over the deaths.

"From Day One, his heart is broken," said David Jones, president of the State Troopers Fraternal Association. "He couldn't be any more remorseful."

The charges stem from a crash that killed two teenage sisters as they drove to get a gallon of milk in Upper Township in September.

Authorities said Higbee ran a stop sign and struck the front driver's side of the teens' Dodge Caravan, killing 17-year-old Jacqueline Becker and her 19-year-old sister, Christina.

The van and patrol car skidded across the road, smashing into another minivan that was stopped at the intersection.

Higbee was issued summonses in October for failure to stop or yield right of way and careless driving. He was indicted on the death by auto charge last month and remains suspended without pay pending the resolution of the case.

If convicted, the trooper could face a prison term of five to 10 years.

David Meyer, Cape May County's first assistant prosecutor, said his office had offered a plea deal to Higbee, but the offer has not yet been accepted or rejected. Meyer, April, and Higbee's lawyer, D. William Subin, all declined to say what the offer was.

But Subin said Higbee is not interested in pleading guilty to anything.

"This was a tragic accident," he said. "Trooper Higbee is innocent of any criminal wrongdoing. I do not believe this case belongs in criminal court. Unless a motion is granted to dispose of this matter, he will absolutely go to trial."

Jones said Higbee was chasing a speeder who was going at least 30 mph faster than the speed limit. But several witnesses have told authorities and Caifa's lawyer that they saw no other vehicle on the road just before the crash.

"He was attempting to stop that violator, and he missed a stop sign in an area that was not familiar to him," Jones said. "We are allowed to chase speeders. That's what we do."
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

http://cbs3.com/capemay/Trooper.Robe....2.307979.html

**Beans** · 01-23-08, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Terminator

NO call, except helping another LEO who needs emergency assistance, is worth going that fast!

I agree. This guy also caused an accident once before that cost the state of IL 1 million dollars.

**MacLean** · 01-23-08, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Terminator

NO call, except helping another LEO who needs emergency assistance, is worth going that fast!

+1

**213th** · 01-23-08, 05:00 PM

I wonder....if the dashcam is no help cause his lights/siren weren't on or if it was completely destroyed in the crash. If it's the first reason....it makes me wonder what the reasoning for the speed would be if there wasn't a need for the lights. Not that it matters, whether or not the speed was justified, the accident is still tragic

**Resident Smart Ass** · 01-23-08, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by Terminator

NO call, except helping another LEO who needs emergency assistance, is worth going that fast!

+1 but also gotta remember you're useless if you get yourself into an accident responding to a officer assist.

Get there fast but with extreme caution

**Beans** · 01-23-08, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by 213th

I wonder....if the dashcam is no help cause his lights/siren weren't on or if it was completely destroyed in the crash. If it's the first reason....it makes me wonder what the reasoning for the speed would be if there wasn't a need for the lights. Not that it matters, whether or not the speed was justified, the accident is still tragic

When this first happened the news said the camera was never turned on.

**BEK** · 01-23-08, 05:34 PM

I guess I would want to hear the dispatch tapes n such. Alot of times they send units to a scene with unknown injuries and turn out to be minor fender benders. Not saying that its an excuse but I would like to hear the full story.

**Five-0** · 01-23-08, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by Terminator

NO call, except helping another LEO who needs emergency assistance, is worth going that fast!

Ding, ding, ding!!!! We have a winner.

**jmur5074** · 01-23-08, 06:47 PM

I think I've broken 100 mph once or twice....ever.

If I went any higher I'd probably shit my pants.

126 is just to fast.

But, I wasn't there....so I'm not going to say he was wrong.

But it definetly doesn't sound right.

**Pudge** · 01-23-08, 06:53 PM

Terrible situation for all involved.

**213th** · 01-23-08, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by BEK

I guess I would want to hear the dispatch tapes n such. Alot of times they send units to a scene with unknown injuries and turn out to be minor fender benders. Not saying that its an excuse but I would like to hear the full story.

based on that, with some outside the box thinking, what if he recognized the tag as one registered to a wife or close family member? Just something that popped into my head...

**MacLean** · 01-23-08, 07:01 PM

126 MPH is too fast for an injury accident, let alone a non-injury accident.

Unless the accident involves police cars, I can't see it.

**gopherpuckfan** · 01-23-08, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

I think I've broken 100 mph once or twice....ever.

If I went any higher I'd probably shit my pants.

You're such a sally

**armsmaster270** · 01-23-08, 07:34 PM

He was going way too fast snd due to the lack of dashcam being on without his Emergency lights also. Double screwed.

**PapaBear** · 01-23-08, 07:37 PM

Ka-ching, Ka-ching, Ka-ching! This one is going to cost ISP more than a Million dollars. No call is worth taking that chance or driving at that speed - unless it is to save your own life or a partner's life. Tragic, just trajic.

**Big Al** · 01-23-08, 08:22 PM

A few years back one of our guys was charged/convicted of manslaughter after he T-boned and killed a lady. He had been chasing a motorcycle that he could no longer see. He had is lights and siren on, ran a stop sign and smacked the other vehicle.

He is still working for us. He did not get any jail time with his sentence.

Thread: IL Trooper in Hot Water.

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

IL Trooper in Hot Water.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions