Wagoner County sheriff’s wife not at fault in crash with police vehicle

By John Dobberstein, Editor

COWETA — Coweta police said Monday that neither its police officer nor a civilian driver was committing any traffic infractions when their cars collided earlier this month, causing a fiery crash.

According to a police report, the civilian driver struck by Coweta Police Officer Samuel Chapman’s police vehicle was Judith Leigh Elliott, the wife of Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott.

A lengthy statement and traffic report released by Coweta Police Chief Mike Bell said Chapman will be undergoing additional driver training on operating a police vehicle.

A training program will also be implemented at the department, Bell said, requiring all new hires from outside departments to “go to a driving course and demonstrate their ability to operate a police vehicle in emergency responses.”

The accident occurred Aug. 3 at the intersection of State Highway 51 and 111^th Street in Coweta. Another officer observed a motorcycle begin traveling eastbound from a traffic light at a high rate of speed while doing a wheelie at the intersection of 121st Street South and State Highway 51.

The officer switched on lights and sirens and attempted to stop the motorcycle, but the operator began to drive faster and elude the officer, Bell said. After several minutes, the initiating officer broke from the pursuit.

Having heard Jones’ pursuit of the motorcycle over the radio, Chapman turned his vehicle around and headed eastbound on Highway 51, initiating his emergency lights and siren as he began an emergency response to aid the other officer.

Chapman was eastbound on Highways 51 at 111^th Street and remained in the inside travel lane as he approached the intersection traveling at 92 mph a few seconds before the collision, the report said. As Chapman approached the intersection, several vehicles were in the eastbound left turn lane waiting to turn east on 111^th, Bell said.

According to Bell, the vehicles blocked Chapman’s view of the westbound turn lane where Elliott’s vehicle was sitting, waiting to turn west on 111^th . “It’s clear from the video that her view of the oncoming officer was also blocked,” Bell said in the statement.

As Chapman approached 111^th he slowed slightly to 80 mph, vehicle data showed. His light had changed to red as he approached the intersection, which was confirmed by video from a nearby business, Bell said. Elliott’s light changed to green and she began to make her left turn.

Once Elliott entered the intersection she saw the police vehicle and tried to accelerate to get out of the way. Bell said Chapman saw Elliott’s vehicle turning left directly in front of him and applied his brakes to slow down while turning his vehicle to the right to avoid the collision. When the two vehicles collided, Chapman was traveling 51 mph.

Both vehicles spun and exited the roadway into the ditch area on the southwest corner of 111^th and Highway 51. The impact on the police unit shorted out the battery compartment, causing the vehicle to catch fire.

Elliott was transported from the scene by EMS for treatment, and Chapman was transported by department personnel to a local hospital for treatment.

Bell said “rumors abound about this accident” but neither party had any alcohol or drugs in their system. “Secondly, video evidence makes it clear neither party observed the other party before the collision. We wish Mrs. Elliot a swift and full recovery from her injuries, and we are truly sorry that she was injured in this accident.”

Bell added that his department “understands the importance of public safety, enforcing laws, and how they affect each other. Our officers receive several hours of training each year to enhance their ability to provide services to the public in a safe manner.”

But he noted the State of Oklahoma has in the last couple of years ceased offering the police vehicle driving course, which allows officers to complete a police course on police maneuvers on a closed track.

Chapman was a newly hired officer from another agency and showed proficiency with a firearm at a gun range, “but we did not take him to a driving range to see how he would handle a vehicle,” Bell said. “Therefore, I have implemented a training program requiring all new hires from outside departments to go to a driving course and demonstrate their ability to operate a police vehicle in emergency responses.”

Since Chapman wasn’t involved in the pursuit, Bell said the department’s current policies, “reflect the best possible practice regarding police pursuits and emergency responses. But the training program must be reviewed for driving proficiency, and corrections may need to be addressed,” he added.