Two separate media organizations tell a differing version of a auto accident where a mother of three was killed. First the Miami Herald–
[Miami-Dade police spokesman Detective Bobby] Williams said the officers were not in pursuit of the speeding vehicle at the time of the crash and were driving without their sirens and lights on.
”They were not chasing the vehicle, they were following it,” he said. “There was no reason for their [sirens and lights] to be on because they were not in a pursuit and were not initiating a traffic stop.”
Associated Press says the police were engaged in a chase-
Authorities say a woman has died after the car she was driving collided with a police cruiser during a chase in Miami.
According to a news release, officers spotted a speeding car while conducting traffic stops on Interstate 95 early Saturday morning. Police followed the car and tried to pull over the driver, but instead collided with the Nissan Altima that the woman was driving. The Nissan then crashed into a house.
There is a plausible explanation for different versions. Associated Press doesn’t do much original reporting of local news. What they do is take the work of another news organization, re-write it, and put it out on their wire service. If you want just one example of what I mean, click here. In the process of copying the story, AP often mixes up the facts. Like saying Kellie Lim had a 85% chance of survival instead of 85% chance of dying.
One other thing about this story.
Miami-Dade police traffic homicide investigators are investigating the crash, Williams said.
Since the accident involved Miami-Dade police, they shouldn’t be investigating it. It is an obvious conflict of interest. Even if the police do the job right, and that’s a big if in the world of South Florida law enforcement, they can still be open to allegations that Miami-Dade investigators protected their own.
The Miami-Dade spokesman’s own wording makes me suspicious, he says they were following not chasing. News reports said the speeder topped 100 mph and the following covered 11 blocks before the accident took place. If they weren’t chasing and obeying the rules of the road, what good was following likely to do? At 100 mph the speeder will be long gone.
I will also point out the crash caused the dead woman’s car to collide with a house. How does that happen except if one of the cars involved wasn’t speeding?
South Florida law enforcement motto- ‘To Serve and Protect our own‘ looks to be very much alive right now in Miami-Dade County.
Hat tip- Rick at SFDB who asks ‘So which is it?’
