On July 31, 2018, in Peculiar, Missouri, authorities from the Missouri State Highway Patrol have suggested that distracted driving may have contributed to an incident involving a bicyclist and a Peculiar police officer on Thursday evening.
The accident occurred around 6:20 p.m. at the intersection of 211th Street and Missouri Highway J.
Bicyclist Joe Fasanello was at a stop sign when Officer Charles Wallace turned sharply in his police SUV and collided with him head-on. Fasanello’s GoPro camera, mounted on his helmet, recorded the entire event.
“I was hit head-on by a local officer who was distracted by his phone. He was reading a text from another officer while turning onto my road. I was stationary at the time… there is simply no reason to use your phone while driving,” Fasanello stated.
In the footage, the officer admitted to looking at his phone during the incident. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is currently investigating the matter.
According to troopers, the crash occurred when Officer Wallace attempted to make a left turn onto 211th Street, turning too sharply and colliding with Fasanello. Although he sustained some scrapes and soreness, Fasanello did not seek medical attention at the scene.
“The Missouri State Highway Patrol is looking into the incident. In the meantime, the officer has been placed on paid suspension, which is standard procedure,” stated Police Chief Harry Gurin.
Gurin assured that the department is committed to a thorough and transparent investigation, emphasizing their integrity in handling the situation.
