On July 12 a police driver had to jump on a moving crane after it had crashed into multiple cars on the Long Island Expressway, Hauppauge Suffolk County. After hitting four cars near exit 57 and being spotted by the police, the 47-year-old took off in his crane. Around Exit 63, Joseph Goss, a highway patrol officer, jumped in to the crane once it slowed down to stop the vehicle from hitting anyone else. The driver was presumed to be drunk.
According to the officer “My primary goal was getting that car stopped and just keeping other motorists away from him, because if he made…slight contact, it would just shred their car apart.” Officer Goss had a similar experience back in 2016, where he was able to park the moving vehicle of a woman, who was on drugs, with a baby in the back seat.
The crane driver refused to take a breathalyzer at the scene of the accident, meaning his license was suspended right away. He is currently facing DWI charges. Fortunately, the victims in the four vehicles that were hit only had to suffer minor injuries. This is especially fortunate since the potential damage a rogue crane driver on the LIE can do is tremendous.
Unfortunately, we cannot escape the possibility of there being a drunk driver on the road. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of 2016, 29 people die every day from a drunk driver, meaning every 50 minutes someone will be killed in a car accident due to someone else’s poor judgment. The best way to protect yourself is to pay attention to the best of your abilities to recognize a dangerous driver and take the necessary defensive driving measures.
Take note of the signs of a drunk driver. Teach your children who may now be driving as well so they can learn to drive defensively as well. A driver may be drunk if he/she is:
If you see some of these things taking place, it is likely you are sharing the road with a drunk driver. First and foremost you want to stay safe, and then do what you can to report the driver. Follow these steps:
We can be thankful that someone like Officer Goss was able to protect the crane driver from causing further danger to the people driving on the Long Island Expressway. It reminds us how unpredictable and dangerous the roads can be sometimes. Sometimes being in the wrong place at the wrong time can result in serious injury. If this is the case for you or a loved one and you have been injured because of someone else’s poor judgement, you should contact us and let us help you get the compensation you deserve.