Santee Sheriff’s deputy Ken Collier was killed in a car accident while attempting to stop a wrong-way driver suspected of DUI, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.  Collier’s passenger, a co-worker, experienced several personal injuries from the auto accident, but is expected to survive.

Our firm’s Santee accident lawyers feel that together, drunk-drivers and wrong-way driving is a mix for devastation and disaster.  Collier’s wrongful death did not have to happen, but because he was an officer, he knew it was his duty to put his own safety on the line to ensure that people like you and me did not die an automobile accident.

Around 3 a.m., the morning of the accident, Collier and his co-worker were heading west on State Route 52, when Jose Jasso Lopez passed by them heading east.  The Sheriff’s deputy pulled a quick U-turn in pursuit of Lopez’s vehicle, starting a police car chase in the auxilary lane, which ended in tragedy when the lane that Collier was in abruptly disappeared.

The deputy’s vehicle plunged down an embankment, rolling over several times, before coming to a stop and bursting in flames.  Collier was ejected while his passenger someone managed to escape the burning automobile.  Lopez was arrested a few miles past the crash site.  Emergency teams rushed to get Collier the medical attention he needed, but sadly, he died two hours later at a nearby hospital.

“Maria and I were deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Deputy Ken Collier,” California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  “He was an outstanding officer who committed himself to protecting the safety of his community and San Diego is a safer place because of his hard work.  As Ken’s family and loved ones reflect back on his life, we extend our deepest sympathies for their loss.”

The San Diego car accident attorneys at our law office know a number of ways to prevent drunk-driving accidents from happening, but feel that it still isn’t enough.  Obviously in this case a well-trained police officer lost his life trying to stop someone who should never have been driving on the road in the first place if he were drunk.  We need stricter laws, harsher punishments, and better to motorist technology to keep drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel.

Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney and find out how we can help you.  We speak English and Spanish, and we look forward to providing advice for your case.  There is no fee if no recovery.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.