On a December evening that was punctuated by the blare of sirens and the flashing of squad car lights, the Wauwatosa community was reminded of the inherent dangers that lurk on the road, especially when the law and emergencies intertwine. The Wauwatosa Police Department reported two separate collisions on December 7 involving their officers. According to the Wauwatosa Police Department's Facebook page, the incidents resulted in several non-life-threatening injuries and demonstrated the perils that distractions and oversight can introduce to both civilians and law enforcement alike.
The first incident happened on N. Mayfair Rd. An officer had stopped a car with no license plates when a ride-share vehicle crashed into the back of the squad car, even though the emergency lights were on. The ride-share tipped onto its side, and two passengers were taken to the hospital. The Wauwatosa Police Department noted that this adds to ongoing concerns about ride-share safety and reminds all drivers to move over and stay alert.
About an hour later near W. Blue Mound Rd. and N. 121st St., an officer and a recently arrested drunk driver were hit by another vehicle while police were handling an earlier crash. The arrested person said their ankle hurt, and both they and the officer were taken to the hospital but released with no serious injuries. The driver who hit them stayed at the scene and cooperated with police, as detailed by the Wauwatosa Police Department.
The Wauwatosa Police Department is using these incidents to remind everyone about Wisconsin’s Move Over Law. The law requires drivers to move over or slow down when passing an emergency scene to help protect responders. In their public communication, the Wauwatosa Police Department thanked "the good Samaritans who helped at the scenes of both crashes and to our Fire and EMS partners for their quick response and help treating the injured parties."
