Police officer drove through a red light; the crash sent a Ferndale woman to hospital
A 64-year-old woman was injured in an accident Thursday afternoon after a Ferndale police officer responding to a call drove through a red light, according to a Washington State Patrol press release.
Teresa L. Thompson was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. She was in serious condition in the intensive care unit Friday, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Shortly before noon Thursday, Washington State Patrol troopers responded to the scene of a two-car collision at the intersection of Main Street and Barrett Road.
Ferndale police officer William Hatchet was eastbound on Main street in a Ferndale Police Department 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe when the light turned red. Hatchet failed to yield the right of way as Thompson was turning left onto Main and the pair collided, according to the State Patrol.
Both vehicles came to rest in the intersection and the road was blocked for three and a half hours, the release states.
Hatchet suffered minor injuries and was taken to St. Joseph hospital. Hatchet was treated and released Thursday.
Both cars were totaled in the crash, according to the State Patrol.
No charges are expected, according to the release.
“Generally, unless we can determine recklessness there’s not criminal charges, even when it involves a regular citizen,” said Trooper Heather Axtman, a State Patrol spokesperson.
When asked whether Hatchet’s lights and sirens were on, how fast he was going, whether he will receive disciplinary action and what the City of Ferndale’s liability is, City Clerk Susan Duncan said: “As the incident is currently under investigation, we are unable to provide a response at this time.”
This story was originally published April 12, 2019 at 8:04 AM.
