cool story bros- witness to a bizarre accident tonight... caused by a police car?

[Flabbibulin]

Not sure who might have been stuck on eastbound Glenmore just before Crowchild around 6pm, but heres why it was a mess for hours-

I was driving in the fast lane (fairly congested, but everyone driving at normal enough speeds). Anyways, about 4 cars in front of me, a police car decided to suddenly turn on the sirens, slam on the brakes, and make a quick u-turn at that Richard Rd intersection near the Volvo dealership... as a consequence of this, the 3 cars behind the police car all crashed into each other when they slammed the brakes virtually destroying the vehicle in the middle of the 3. I was able to veer my truck into the middle shoulder, but would have been in big trouble if I had hit as well. I can't honestly say how much room the police car had behind them, but it didn't seem like much- it is possible the car immediately behind them simply reacted too slowly

Anyways, the thing that got everyone ticked off is that as soon as the cop car did the u-turn and got on westbound Glenmore, they turned off the siren and continued driving at a normal speed. The casual driving/no sirens after the quick u-turn seemed to indicate they weren't actually responding to any other emergency.

I know the law is the law when it comes to rear-ending, but that sure sucks for the drivers. I'm sure all of them will be phoning the CPS to complain about the situation.

edit- Its also interesting how many people go absolutely berserk that vehicles are left on the road after an accident and not pushed over to the shoulder- in this case, one of the cars was completely un-driveable and the young girl behind the wheel wasn't even able to get out of the car.... still plenty of passing cars were yelling obscenities and honking their horns because all of the cars were stopped in the fast lane.

second edit- just realized I forgot to mention that the cop car that originally did the u-turn was allegedly among the cop entourage that responded to the scene. I wasn't there long enough to see how this unfolded though.

[Cheerio]

Do you mean Westbound Glenmore? Because Eastbound Glenmore was fine around 6, but Westbound was awful. Backed up way beyond Deerfoot. Unless the accident happened after I was passed there?

[Flabbibulin]

No, eastbound- it must have been a little after 6 then... maybe 615ish. Westbound is always a mess at that time with congestion, but eastbound was completely buggered after this

[Flabbibulin]

by the way, I was thinking this right after I saw the cop do the quick u-turn, cause an accident and then turn off the siren...

[Muffins]

I've seen a cop car turn on the sirens to go through a red light so that they could turn into the Tim Hortons.

[Flash Walken]

So, the police car made an illegal u-turn in the middle of a busy commute, caused an accident and left the scene?

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

So, the police car made an illegal u-turn in the middle of a busy commute, caused an accident and left the scene?

ya, good point- just went on google maps and it is obviously a no u-turn "intersection"

http://maps.google.com/?ll=51.00323,...6,,1,4.02&z=17

[zamler]

I wonder if there is video available in that area.

[Knut]

I sat on Glenmore westbound for 45 mins. That was due to an accident on Sarcee near Richmond road. About 6:30ish I saw all the vehicles on the median (including your truck). Crazy day on Glenmore that is for sure.

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by Hesla

I sat on Glenmore westbound for 45 mins. That was due to an accident on Sarcee near Richmond road. About 6:30ish I saw all the vehicles on the median (including your truck). Crazy day on Glenmore that is for sure.

ha, ya I was the black suv- the other truck just ahead was the first vehicle in the "pile-up"

I didn't hit anyone, but Im worried I might have messed up my alignment/suspension when I took the curb to miss the accident

[RW99]

From my understanding (and someone with direct knowledge should chime in), police officers require approval from their supervisor to turn on their lights and sirens. I'm guessing there will be injuries reported, so I'm curious what type of data can be obtained from the police to identify the patrol car involved for any liability exposure.

[Knut]

There is a Tim's just off Richard Rd. Must have run out of coffee

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

Not sure who might have been stuck on eastbound Glenmore just before Crowchild around 6pm, but heres why it was a mess for hours-

I was driving in the fast lane (fairly congested, but everyone driving at normal enough speeds). Anyways, about 4 cars in front of me, a police car decided to suddenly turn on the sirens, slam on the breaks, and make a quick u-turn at that Richard Rd intersection near the Volvo dealership... as a consequence of this, the 3 cars behind the police car all crashed into each other when they slammed the breaks, virtually destroying the vehicle in the middle of the 3. I was able to veer my truck into the middle shoulder, but would have been in big trouble if I had hit as well. I can't honestly say how much room the police car had behind them, but it didn't seem like much- it is possible the car immediately behind them simply reacted too slowly

Anyways, the thing that got everyone ticked off is that as soon as the cop car did the u-turn and got on westbound Glenmore, they turned off the siren and continued driving at a normal speed. The casual driving/no sirens after the quick u-turn seemed to indicate they weren't actually responding to any other emergency.

I know the law is the law when it comes to rear-ending, but that sure sucks for the drivers. I'm sure all of them will be phoning the CPS to complain about the situation.

edit- Its also interesting how many people go absolutely berserk that vehicles are left on the road after an accident and not pushed over to the shoulder- in this case, one of the cars was completely un-driveable and the young girl behind the wheel wasn't even able to get out of the car.... still plenty of passing cars were yelling obscenities and honking their horns because all of the cars were stopped in the fast lane.

Let us know how this works out, or we'll know you've been bought off or whacked.

[puckluck]

There is no such thing as an "illegal" u-turn for a cop with his sirens on.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Just a heads up guys, for the most part cops try to avoid using their lights and sirens to avoid causing distractions when it isn't a really pressing emergency. It's not uncommon for cop cars to turn on the lights and sirens so they can get through an intersection and then turn them off so they can continue on to a call without causing unnecessary distractions.

[showtime]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Just a heads up guys, for the most part cops try to avoid using their lights and sirens to avoid causing distractions when it isn't a really pressing emergency. It's not uncommon for cop cars to turn on the lights and sirens so they can get through an intersection and then turn them off so they can continue on to a call without causing unnecessary distractions.

My friend is a cop and he basically told me exactly that when I asked him about cops turning their lights on then off again once through an intersection. He then said if they kept their lights and sirens on to all the calls they responded to theyd never be able to shut them off.

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Just a heads up guys, for the most part cops try to avoid using their lights and sirens to avoid causing distractions when it isn't a really pressing emergency. It's not uncommon for cop cars to turn on the lights and sirens so they can get through an intersection and then turn them off so they can continue on to a call without causing unnecessary distractions.

Oh my, I went through my OP and realized I left out an important detail... I just assumed I had mentioned it. The police car that did the u-turn apparantly showed up with the entourage of police cars that responded to the accident... indicating that they weren't en route to another call. I gave my witness account to another police officer, so Im not really sure what was mentioned between the drivers and the officer in the police car...

[Jake]

Based on that description, I have a feeling insurance companies will probably say the person behind the police car was following too close.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by Jake

Based on that description, I have a feeling insurance companies will probably say the person behind the police car was following too close.

The person behind the police car didn't rear end anyone, the person behind the car behind the police car, and the car behind the car behind the car behind the police car, were following too close.

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by Jake

Based on that description, I have a feeling insurance companies will probably say the person behind the police car was following too close.

doesnt matter I dont think- person in rear is at fault