Police and deputies face danger in their vehicles

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Law enforcement officials are injured in the line of duty in their own vehicles more often than one might think.

Vehicle collisions are common enough as a regular citizen on the roads every day, but law enforcement spends most of their shift in their vehicle on the roads.

Sheriff Brett Hightower says the job can be dangerous, but awareness and care can make the roads safer for law enforcement and civilians.

Police have been injured or killed while on the side of the road making traffic stops and just while driving to a call.

“If you get involved in an accident and you don’t ever make it there, then you don’t get to help anybody. So, the idea is that first and foremost you are able to respond and at the end of the day, you are able to go home to your family,” said Hightower.

Captain Curtis Hargett says he has experienced mild collisions in his cruiser.

“It’s in an instant, you know. Things like this happen and one second you are fine and at the snap of a finger it could be catastrophic,” said Hargett.

Hightower says roads can be safer for everyone if drivers are focused, sober and attentive.

The sheriff’s department has seen multiple visitors of former deputies and have received calls from all over the state in regard to Wednesday nights collision.