Charlottesville officer wrecks on way to robbery, faces charge
Published: November 20, 2009
CHARLOTTESVILLE — A Charlottesville police officer whose unmarked vehicle hit another car as he responded to a bank robbery faces a traffic charge.
Albermarle County police Lt. Todd Hopwood says 25-year-old Officer Kyle Boynton was attempting to exit a shopping center when the accident occurred earlier this week. Boynton’s car collided with another car traveling on U.S. 29.
Hopwood says the other driver heard the siren of Boynton’s car but couldn’t determine the source of the sound.
Boynton was charged with failure to yield the right of way. He and a passenger suffered minor injuries.
Charlottesville city spokesman Ric Barrick says Boynton will face an accident review board. He says Boyton remains on duty.
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Reader Reactions
Traffic laws don’t require intent for a person to be convicted. Most people don’t intend to wreck their car. It’s human error. Nevertheless, the police will write a ticket and the offender will pay a fine to the Commonwealth. No exception should be made for this Police Officer.
Emergency equipment shouldn’t proclude him from exercising caution and watching where he is going. Very often a siren is heard, but until the car comes into direct view it is difficult to determine it’s direction and your need to move over. If this officer didn’t have lights (an unmarked car often doesn’t) they driver of the other car may not have been able to determine in such a split second that the car was about to pull out and hit them.
I believe the Code of Virginia still requires cops to exercise caution and stop or slow when entering cross traffic so as not to hit anyone… much like this accident. This is usually why you see emergency vehicles blare their sirens and horns and slow down before crossing an intersection.
I’m really curious to know what the statistics are on bank robbers actually caught right after the theft vs. how many are caught after a lengthy man hunt. In other words, does it make a difference, statistically speaking, for a cop to rush and possibly endanger others just to get to the scene and not apprehend the person right away?
Officer Boynton had his emergency equipment operating! Due to the amount of calls and amount of miles Officer’s drive just in routine patrol accidents will happen. I wish a speedy recovery for all those involved. But by the Code of Virginia Officers in perforance of their duties are exempt from some traffic laws. I feel that the review board is necessary and will handle any wrong doing by the Officer if there was any but to charge him over this in not necessary. I have faith the City will take care of the citizen involved in this accident (insurance). Obviously there was no intent by the officer to harm anyone other than to respond to a Bank Robbery call to protect any citizens that may be endangered.
Keep your head up Officer Boynton it can happen to the best of us!
Only in Charlottesville
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