Drunken, inattentive drivers taking major toll on Burnsville's cops

Burnsville Police officer Paul Oelrich said he never saw the sport-utility vehicle coming.

The SUV slammed into his and a second officer's squad cars, and then into a minivan that Oelrich had stopped. Hit by flying debris, he tumbled into the ditch.

Oelrich, along with a mother and two children inside the van, escaped serious injury in the crash that was filmed by a camera mounted on his squad's dashboard.

The driver of the SUV, who had a minor injury, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

That July 11 crash was the eighth time in the past 2 1/2 years that a Burnsville officer has been injured -- or had a squad car struck -- by drunken or inattentive drivers, mostly during traffic stops.

Six of the seven officers were hurt, and four of them lost more than 1,000 hours of work time. One had to retire early. Another was hit twice in separate crashes. Damage to squad cars has totalled more than $74,000.

"Enough's enough in Burnsville," Police Chief Bob Hawkins said at a news conference Wednesday. He issued a plea for all drivers nationwide to move over at least one lane when they see a stopped emergency vehicle, be more careful and pay attention.

"Whether it's looking at their stereo ... talking on a cell phone, adjusting that radio, reading that newspaper, adjusting their makeup in the mirror," he said. "Whatever it is that distracts folks from that road really creates the hazardous for all of us."

In Minnesota, vehicles are required to move over a lane if there are two lanes or more in the same direction when squad cars, ambulances, fire trucks or even tow trucks are on a shoulder. The law was passed after state trooper Ted Foss was killed by a semitrailer truck during a traffic stop on Interstate 90 in 2000.

"We don't want you just all of a sudden making that quick lane change," Hawkins said. "Check your mirrors, look over your shoulders, make sure that you can make that lane change safely."

If traffic prevents drivers from changing lanes, they should slow down, Hawkins said. He also asks that drivers call 911 to report others who appear to be driving drunkenly.

The accidents have taken police off the streets and have cost taxpayers. But there's also a lingering effect for officers such as Oelrich, who said he returned to work to find himself looking over his shoulder with every traffic stop. Other officers, including Chris Biagini who was hit by an SUV in January, are doing the same

"I heard screeching tires behind me, looked and saw a vehicle inches away from me," Biagini said. "It struck me, pinning me between the vehicle I was already out with and the vehicle that had hit me for about one to seconds, before spinning away."

He fell and tried to call for help on his radio, but it was smashed. Biagini could barely move his legs as an ambulance took him to a hospital. He missed a month of work.

"My first few days back on," he said, "I was more cautious of my surroundings, looking over my shoulder a little more, being aware of other vehicles driving by me."

The distraction alone can be hazardous for police, who must stay focused on cars and people they stop, Hawkins said.

"It's a balance of keeping my safety with the vehicle I have stopped, or my safety in keeping from being hit by a vehicle going by me," Biagini said. "It's definitely something you've got to think about."

For four of the most seriously injured officers, Burnsville had nearly $40,000 in medical expenses and $88,000 in lost wages, though worker's compensation paid two-thirds of it. Such claims increase the city's insurance premiums.

Officer Laura Hartfiel had to retire with a medical disability, in what Hawkins called a loss for the department and the city. And Officer Lyn Tonne was off work for nearly 10 months after she was struck in March 2007 during a traffic stop on Nicollet Avenue. She returned to work but was hit a second time and was out weeks more.

While she and the other officers were recovering, Hawkins said, their duties went unfilled, which affected the entire community.

"I hope the message gets out statewide that people need to slow down and move over," Biagini said.

Joy Powell • 952-882-9017