CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Jaw-dropping video of a Chillicothe Police cruiser going airborne over railroad tracks is causing extreme mental distress for those impacted.
The Guardian obtained video of the officer speeding over railroad tracks on Second Street Thursday night. In the home security camera video, the cruiser does not have its emergency lights or sirens activated but is seen speeding so fast, that the Ford Explorer goes airborne while crossing railroad tracks and bottoming out on the other side of the tracks, before losing control and crashing into two parked cars.
Officer Donald Arbogast was in the driver’s seat and was unharmed. The owners of the parked cars were inside their homes when the crash occurred and were also not injured.
Officials with the police department said they could not comment on the situation or why Arbogast might have been speeding, because, “the current discipline status of the officer is still currently being reviewed and investigated.”
—CONTINUE READING THE BELOW VIDEO—
While the officer faces an employment inquiry into the crash, the owners of the parked cars say they are suffering because the city refuses to help them.
Mother Danielle Drummond said her now-totaled car was her family’s only means of transportation. The mother of three young boys, she told the Guardian that the city is refusing to help her, and that simple things like getting groceries for her family are a burden.
She said that Mayor Luke Feeney’s office has not been helpful.
“I got a call today from a gentleman who said he would be getting a claims adjuster,” said Drummond, whose Cadillac was destroyed. “…. the adjuster said the [city’s] insurance wasn’t going to cover it.”
Drummond said she has cried from the extreme mental distress caused by the crash and the city’s refusal to make it right, but that she is trying to stay strong for her family.
“They didn’t offer any rental car or anything. I tried to call my insurance company and they said it was the city’s responsibility. It was the only drivable car I had. I had the car two weeks after working so hard to get one. My grandma helped me to get the car and a cop smashed it. I have three kids at home. It’s horrible. We have to walk to the store now, walk everywhere. We can only bring home what we can carry. I can’t take my kids to appointments, either.”
In a routine crash investigation, victims are normally given rental cars within a day or two by the at-fault party’s insurance company until a financial settlement is reached, but Drummond said that’s not the case in this situation.
A call to the city by the Guardian seeking comment for this story was not returned.
So far, the officer has not been cited for the crash and he remains employed.
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