Ohio State Trooper Runs Into Motorcycle

[Kennah]

This definitely belongs in the "Holy Shit" forum.

http://www.wdtn.com/news/local/greene-county/2-news-obtains-video-of-trooper-crash

2 NEWS Investigates has obtained dash camera video from the car of the Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper who hit a Beavercreek couple on a motorcycle. WDTN filed a lawsuit in an effort to make the video public.

Amy and Corey Waldman were traveling west on U.S. 35 the night of August 17 when their motorcycle was rear-ended by Trooper Jacob Daymon. Mrs. Waldman, the passenger, had to be flown to Miami Valley Hospital. Her husband was taken there by ambulance. They both say had it not been for their helmets they probably would not have survived. The couple says they have no hard feelings and even forgave the trooper the next day.
...
Dash camera video is commonly released after newsworthy incidents as it is considered a public record. Unlike other newsworthy incidents, however, the Ohio State Police refused to release it, citing a request from the Greene County prosecutor. In court documents, prosecutor Stephen Haller called the video “evidence in a criminal investigation.”
...
2 NEWS Investigates asked for and was given a copy of Trooper Daymon's personal file which shows he's never been disciplined, in fact he was 2012 Trooper of the Year at the Xenia Post.

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I cannot help but think that if I had done this to a police officer on a motorcycle, I would STILL be in jail.

[Logical]

1. If you did this to a trooper you would be in prison. n-t

[Dawson Leery]

2. That fact that there had to be a lawsuit to obtain this video tells you everthing.

[gopiscrap]

3. yup just think if it was reversed-fucking cop!!!

[TheDeputy]

4. My guess.

Trooper has an exemplary record. Seems to be a good officer. I bet he was sending or receiving a message on his in car computer.

[petronius]

5. Texting while driving, in other words?

Seems like a good area for policy reexamination - nobody, IMO, should be texting, computing, or phoning (hands-free or not) while operating a vehicle...

[Kennah]

7. I am inclined to agree

[Heather MC]

6. Horrible reporting They should put out the Question what was he doing while driving.

Was he on the phone? Texting? What distracted him?

Glad the couple is ok

[Ghost in the Machine]

8. No charges pending?!?!?! WTF??? He hit them from behind! ANYONE ELSE..ANYWHERE.. would at least

be charged for the accident with either a reckless driving or "failure to keep control of their vehicle", and be responsible for all damages and medical bills, at the very least. That's been the law everywhere I've lived... you hit someone from behind, it's your fault.. automatically! The worst part about this one is that it appears that the cop didn't even slow down, like he didn't even see them! What the hell was he doing??

From my own riding experience, I can tell you that there *are* people out there who have a general hatred of bikers, for reasons unknown to me because I'm not a mind reader, nor do I know their personal circumstances, but I lost count of the times people have intentionally swerved at me, got up as close as they could behind me without actually hitting me or just plain tried to run me off the road (2 of those times actually resulting in me having to lay the bike down, luckily with no serious injuries, just a little road rash thanks to leathers and helmets).

I wonder how this cop feels about bikers in general, especially with it being Ohio? I knew several bikers from Ohio who had moved to South Florida. They all said that there was a tension between bikers and cops that was so hard you couldn't cut through it with a chainsaw. That was 25+ years ago, though. Maybe (hopefully) things have changed since then? Can any Ohio DUers who ride weigh in on this?


Peace,
Ghost