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Santa Rosa Deputy Injured In Traffic Crash
January 24, 2012
A Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputy is recovering after being involved in a traffic crash Monday night.
According to the Florida High Patrol, Deputy Patric Gibson, 46, was responding to an emergency call with lights and sirens when a Ford SUV driven by 45-year old William Burgin of Milton turned in front of him on Willard Norris Road at Pine Blossom Road.
Both men had to be extricated from their vehicles. They were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with series injuries. They were both upgraded to good condition by Tuesday night.
Charges against Burgin are pending.
Comments
17 Responses to “Santa Rosa Deputy Injured In Traffic Crash”
As an emergency driver I am only allowed to exceed the posted speed limit by ten mph. I am aware that at speeds over 55 mph my vehicle outruns my sirens sound. I know that by law I am asking drivers to yeild the right of way(I cant take it or assume that they will give it) speedy recovery to all parties involved and hope it was a learning moment for both
@ John: Probably a matter of semantics, but as I remember, under Chapter 316 FSS, there is nothing in the statutes that GIVES you the right-of-way, however, it is incumbant upon the driver to YIELD the right-of-way to other vehicles in myriads of situations. If you are insistant upon forcing the issue, you could be involved in a civil suit that will really get your attention. The bottom line, you are required to use due care, regardless of what type of vehicle you are operating. Be safe.
To whom it may concern: Its great to see that people care about each other and are voicing their opinions about what happened, unfortunately all most of you know is what the news has told you, i ask humbly that we let the investigation come to an end before we draw conclusions about my 45 year old dad, who never listens to the radio and is always very careful on the road. His biggest concern through his recovery has been the welfare of the deputy that he was involved with. Please pray for the well being of both my Dad, William Burgin, and Officer Gibson.
Excuse me , but what part of “yield to emergency vehicle” ya’ll don’t understand ? Here’s an idea,go to the FHP website ( myflorida.com ) & download a copy of the drivers manual – read the part about what you should do for emergency vehicles,ok.The main problem I see is people driving slow in the “passing lane” & an emergency (police,fire,rescue) vehicle comes up in back of them & they keep driving as if they were on a picnic ? TRY USING YOUR REARVIEW MIRRORS ONCE IN A WHILE ! dah…
Glad to hear both made it through this accident. Prayers for both going up!
@ John, If it were your family that this deputy was on his way to help, you would not be blaming the deputy for this accident.
I lived in the apartments at this intersection years back and it one of the worst intersections ever. I have seen fatalies happen right there. Again, I say thank God more lives weren’t claimed.
Its really sad to see people bashing this officer for something he didnt wrong. This officer was on his way to a call that could have been anything from another officer being shot at, a child being raped, a robbery in progress, or any other life threatning emergency. I bet if he was on his way to your house to help pull your family out of a burning building and he got into a wreck i bet you wouldnt bash this guy then.This community needs to be more pro law enforcment, Support our troopers, deputies and other emergency people. I pray that the officer and other gentelmen is ok. The intersection does need a red light not just a caution light.
Everyone needs to slow down and look twice, turn down the boom and get off the phone and drive, that is the priority in a vehicle, which most of us have forgotten or are neglecting to do. I have to drive all day for work and it literally terrifies me what people are doing besides driving when behind the wheel of a car. I hope they will recover from theyre injuries no matter who is at fault.
@ John –
Well good day sir, if you may or may not recall for some time throughout American history. As it pertains to motor vehicles licensed driver is expected to use the “due care” you mention in your comment in just the same respect as a Law Enforcement Officers or EMS/Fire Departments are when driving during routine actives such as stop and go traffic, going to and from the grocery store, blah, blah, blah. But I’m thinking what you may be failing to realize is that an Emergency vehicle does by law have the right of way with its lights and at times no siren given the response condition. The “due care” you speak of is especially important to be employed during these conditions. The Emergency Responder must be especially diligent when running “code” and the civilian (citizens) must use a higher sense of “due care” every time they operate a vehicle even a bicycle. This being because the Emergency Responder you seem to think may not be using “due care” is because they might be thinking about the overturned vehicle with a family trapped in it that they are rushing to get to, or the Domestic Violence call they are desperately trying to get to because victim calling 911 is in absolute pure fear that their life may be in danger. I say this because although they are held to a higher standard in what they like to call “the public’s” eye, they are still human beings and while using “due care” while driving as fast a safely possible given road and traffic conditions, not only must they process all environmental data they are observing around them but they must control their emotions so they can continue day in and day out to use due care EVERY day they put on the badge that represents an oath they have taken to uphold laws and continue to be the sheepdogs, protectors of the sheep and keep the wolves at bay. Just remember good sir that in time the public citizens do get an opportunity for justice….. Most times it is sadly awarded in the court room after many months and years of trials and various tribulations. But for the lucky few it comes much more swiftly because the Law Enforcement Officers and Emergency Responders across the Nation do use, due care.
@john
An opportunity for justice? Did we read the same article? The civilian ran into a police cruiser running with lights and sirens on. If he needed justice he should’ve gotten it before he hit him.
So why could it not be the officer’s fault? I know that you can get caught up in an adrenaline rush enroute to an emergent call. One can develop “tunnel vision” as well as other contributing factors which does not give LE the right to break the law by speeding, etc.. Everybody has good postings and variable opinions, but don’t be narrow minded, cops are not above the law either and the FHP statement about charges towards Burgin is a little premature without a full accident reconstruction being completed.
why couldn’t it be the civilian’s fault? every time I have seen any LEO or first responders going anywhere with their lights on, people tend to treat them like any other car on the road.. I had a guy flip me the bird and lay on his horn because I pulled onto the shoulder of the road to allow an ambulance in full on emergency mode safely pass me. It’s as if people don’t realize that kind of thing is the law! I may be getting too cynical but I think we should ALL be required to take refresher courses on the laws of the road. A month of drivers Ed in high school just isn’t enough for the majority of people behind the wheel.
Just take Sunflower Ave and take the speed bumps slow and easy and bypass the intersection all together. This will give you more time to judge the on coming traffics speed in which you can make better decisions as to when it is OK to pull out onto Wliiard Norris Rd.
That is a notoriously bad intersection.
It needs a steady traffic light. Not just
the flashing light that’s there now !!!
>>>All too often the media reports on the side of Law Enforcement, however, don’t the public citizens get an opportunity for justice?
We are just reporting what the FHP report says — charges are pending against Burgin.
It is kind of hard to use “due caution” when someone pulls out in front of you,no materr how fast(or slow) you are going.
You state that, “charges against Burgin are pending” insinuating that blame lies totally with him. Was the deputy using “due care” while responding to the incident stated and was/could speed have been a factor as well. All too often the media reports on the side of Law Enforcement, however, don’t the public citizens get an opportunity for justice?
Prayers for both and speedy recoveries!