Change lanes, save lives, police request
Disturbed by officers being killed or severely injured at the side of the road by drivers who didn’t change lanes to give them space, as required by law, the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio and a bipartisan pair of state lawmakers want to raise public awareness and increase criminal penalties.
Jay McDonald, president of the FOP of Ohio, said the organization is launching a statewide campaign, including public safety announcements on radio, to stress to drivers why it is important to follow the law and move over or slow down when an officer has someone pulled over at the side of the road.
“Too many police are being injured and killed in a completely senseless way, including one right here in Ohio earlier this year,” McDonald said Wednesday during a Statehouse press conference.
In January, Cleveland police officer David Fahey was killed at a crash site along Interstate 90 in Rocky River. Officials say he was struck by a vehicle driven by Israel Alvarez, who is facing charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and hit-and-run.
In September, State Trooper Kenneth Velez, 48, was killed along Interstate 90 in Cleveland, reportedly struck by a vehicle operated by Joshua Gaspar, whose charges now include aggravated vehicular homicide.
Columbus police officer Judy Lawrence survived a similar crash, but not without great pain and a long recovery. The 31-year veteran of the department stopped to help a driver along Interstate 71 in January 2014 and was pinned and dragged under a vehicle that slammed into her.
Only her head and shoulders were sticking out from under the vehicle. Lawrence sustained a broken ankle and leg, two broken ribs, a spinal injury, nerve damage in her left arm, a concussion and a laceration on her head that required 22 stitches. She endured 18 months of physical therapy and multiple surgeries.
She returned to duty 22 months after the accident, but she can no longer work the streets because of her leg and neck.
Lawrence said she didn’t remember the impact, which she called a “blessing.” “It seemed like I was there forever, but it was probably only 10 minutes before help came.”
“It was hard on the family, because when they were notified, they think the worst,” she said. “They were so scared. God was with me. I was blessed. I fit underneath the car.”
The driver, Jarrett R. Lumpkin, who had marijuana in his system, pleaded guilty to felony vehicular assault and misdemeanor driving under the influence and was sentenced to one year in prison.
“If you see a vehicle on the side of the roadway, please move over and slow down,” Lawrence said during the news conference.
The public awareness campaign will include the hashtag #MoveOver. McDonald said every law enforcement agency in the state has been asked to focus on enforcing the law requiring drivers to move over, or at least slow down if a lane change is not possible.
The current punishment for failing to do so is a minor misdemeanor. Under legislation soon to be introduced by Reps. Tom Patton, R-Strongsville, and Brigid Kelly, D-Cincinnati, the penalty would go to a first-degree misdemeanor if the action results in injury or death.
“Treat these people who are doing the people’s work at the site of an accident like family,” said Patton, whose own son, a police officer, died in the line of duty in 2010.
“I saw how his daughter had to react to his loss, and his entire family. We hope this will educate and inspire people to drive carefully and understand what we’re dealing with here.”