Motorcyclist Killed in Crash May Have Been Pursued by Police
Sept. 8, 2013
Maurice Drexel Adams crashed his motorcycle early Saturday morning, August 31. Tragically the 27-year-old father of two was fatally injured in the crash and was pronounced dead several hours later at Yale-New Haven Hospital.
It now appears that the New Haven man was apparently being chased by Hamden police officers when he fatally crashed his motorcycle. The Hamden Police Department has launched an internal investigation into the crash after witnesses reported seeing a Hamden police car chase the motorcycle into New Haven. Witnesses report the patrol car drove off after Adams crashed his motorcycle and did not attempt to give aid to the fatally injured man.
Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra said in a statement that the pursuit of Adams was for motor vehicle violations and also that an internal affairs investigation is underway.
Although it was New Haven police that responded to the scene of the deadly accident, the department’s investigation was turned over to the state police because, according to the spokesman for the department, “there is an allegation that it involved another police department.”
For many years both on television and the big screen, viewers have watched police in “hot pursuit” of fleeing suspects. These “hot pursuits”, unfortunately, are a part of modern life and at times lead to pursuit related accidents that cause property damage, injury and even death.
Studies have shown that police pursuits become dangerous very quickly, with fifty percent of all pursuit collisions occurring within the first two minutes of the pursuit, and with seventy percent of all collisions occurring before the sixth minute of the pursuit. High-speed police pursuits are dangerous and constitute an important public safety issue.
Connecticut State Police are investigating the actions of the Hamden police officers involved in Adam’s fatal motorcycle crash to determine if criminal charges should be filed for the pursuit and for leaving the scene of an accident, as well.
When you have been injured due to the fault of another individual, it is important to have an experienced attorney on your side. Your injury may cause the loss of wages, unplanned medical costs, as well as emotional and psychological damage. A knowledgeable, competent personal injury attorney will work diligently to protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Original story found here.