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Updated: 11:02 PM Aug 2, 2010
UPDATE: Huntington Police Officer Totals Cruiser in Crash
The single vehicle crash happened at the Adams Avenue entrance ramp to I-64 in Huntington just after midnight Sunday.
Posted: 10:46 PM Aug 2, 2010Reporter: WSAZ News Staff Email Address: news@wsaz.com |
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93 Comments 
UPDATE 8/2/10 @ 11 p.m.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A Huntington police officer crashed and demolished his cruiser Sunday night while driving to help with a car chase.
The driver was 19 years old and recently out of high school when he was sworn into the force last August.
"A lot of miles are logged every day by our police officers,” Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook said. “Some things are very preventable. Some things are completely out of our hands."
Holbrook says Sunday night's accident likely falls under the category of preventable.
Just after midnight Patrolman Jacob Felix was on his way to assist other officers involved in a pursuit.
He tried to get on I-64 at the entrance ramp near Adams Avenue but crashed, hitting a guardrail and a sign. The car was totaled.
Felix is now 20 years old.
"That is a young age to be a police officer, let alone operating police vehicles,” Holbrook said. “We recognize that, but the standard remains the same for a 20-year-old police officer as it does for a 45-year-old police officer. We don't have a different standard. Accountability's the same."
This was the eleventh HPD car accident of the year. The chief says it appears it's just the second one that was preventable.
"I think that's a pretty remarkable record,” Holbrook said. “Obviously our goal is to have none in a calendar year. We're committed to take steps to prevent accidents. We also believe we have to be accountable to each other and our citizens. They have to know we're being responsible for operating a vehicle."
Holbrook says all the technology that comes with today's police cruisers can be a further distraction.
"It's things we have to be that much more aware of when we're operating a vehicle,” he said. “Without question those things can be a distraction, so we have to be especially attentive to everything we're doing and pay attention to the roadway at the same time."
Holbrook says Huntington Police cruisers have onboard computers that capture data that allows investigators to know exactly what was going on with the vehicle before impact.
That'll help determine if it's necessary to take corrective action against Felix.
Other officers did catch the person involved in the pursuit.
ORIGINAL STORY 8/2/10
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A Huntington Police officer crashed his patrol car while on his way to assist other officers involved in a pursuit.
The single vehicle crash happened at the Adams Avenue entrance ramp to I-64 in Huntington at 12:13 Monday morning, according to Lt. B. J. Wamsley
Wamsley says Patrolman Jacob Felix was attempting to get on the interstate when he crashed.
Felix was treated and released from a Huntington hospital following the crash.
Wamsley says the patrol car was totaled in the crash. There was also damage to the guardrail and a road sign.
Felix has been with the department since last August when he was sworn-in with two other officers. A published report says he was 19 and just out of high school at that time.
Wamsley says Felix is expected back on the job Monday night.
The accident remains under investigation.
Other officers did catch the person involved in the pursuit a short time after the accident. That pursuit began along Hal Greer Boulevard.
Latest Comments
The point that I'm trying to get across to everyone was that at 18 a person can join the military, so why would it be any different for the police force. I personally think that age has little to do with it, it should be based on maturity. Everybody SERIOUSLY needs to calm down and grow up. He was a person, so quit bashing him and everybody else. So to all of you negative people out there, just think that one day something could happen to someone you care about. Would you like for people to talk this way about them? And I somewhat agree with those out there who say that the HPD are slackers. I have experienced that myself many of times. I was almost hit once by a cop who had turned his sirens on just to get out of stopping at a red light. On the other hand I have also experienced good cops. The issue I'm pressing though is ease up on this person PLEASE. And think before you write. Karma sucks...
Fresh out of High School and a city police officer? One might wonder who the parents are and how well connected they are in Huntington. In this area, its who you know, not what you know, that counts.
Just how well could a 19 year old hired out of High School be trained in high speed chases? I think in this case age deffinately comes into play with the amount of training this officer could have had.
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