A San Rafael police officer's quick response to an emergency call nearly turned disastrous when a civilian driver barreled through an intersection, ignoring the officer's flashing lights and the red traffic signal. The near-miss occurred just after 3 PM as the officer was en route to a domestic violence incident, according to a report released by the San Rafael Police Department.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE - STOP FOR EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND SIREN:
— San Rafael Police Department (@SanRafaelPolice) December 24, 2023
This afternoon, just after 3 PM, an SRPD officer was driving with emergency lights and siren while trying to respond to an emergency domestic violence incident that was in progress. The officer was heading… pic.twitter.com/nEgsEodRIQ
Charging westbound on Fifth Avenue with emergency lights blaring and siren wailing, the officer obeyed the law demanding road clearance for such urgent traversals. Despite the emergency vehicle preemption turning their traffic signal green, a driver heading north on Irwin Street failed to stop at their red light, resulting in the collision. Both parties emerged relatively unscathed – the civilian unharmed and the officer with only minor injuries.
In the aftermath, no suspicions of drugs or alcohol contributing to the crash were raised, and arrests were off the table. The San Rafael Police Department took the opportunity to underscore a critical message: Stop for emergency vehicles. "This serves as a reminder to yield and stop for emergency vehicles using emergency lights and sirens, it’s the law," the department emphasized in its statement. The incident spotlights the ever-present need for heightened awareness and adherence to traffic rules, especially regarding emergencies.
With accidents avoidable and countless lives at stake, the police are advocating for stringent attention to road signs and signals. When driving distracted, the risks aren't just personal – they ripple outward, potentially altering the fates of others who abided by their own green lights and clear paths. "Don’t place yourself and others in harms way by ignoring the rules of the road, and NEVER drive distracted," warned the San Rafael Police in their cautionary notice.
