Driver who struck police cruiser on I-295 cited with careless driving

Jacksonville officer injured after being struck while working previous accident

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A police officer was hospitalized Sunday after his patrol car was hit while he was working at the scene of a previous traffic crash on Interstate 295 at New Kings Road.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said the cruiser pulled over on the right shoulder just after noon, and Officer Chad Harris was sitting in his cruiser waiting for fire-rescue crews to arrive to help with an earlier crash when a Ford Taurus crashed into the police car.

Harris was alert and conscious when he was taken to UF Health Jacksonville. The JSO said Harris was evaluated for a possible concussion and other unspecified injuries. However, a source told News4Jax the officer may have a broken arm. 

"Certainly our job is very dangerous," said Lt. Allen Eason. "But crashes are an extremely dangerous part of our job. Especially on the interstate, because people for whatever reason, they don't want to move over or slow down. But it's part of the job that we have to do."

According to the accident report, the Taurus, driven by William Melendez, of Jacksonville, was going 55 mph when he struck the police cruiser. Melendez was not injured but cited with careless driving. Other citations might be issued.

Because an emergency vehicle was aiding a crash on the side of the road, all drivers were expected to move over one lane or lower their speed to 20 mph below the speed limit. The Move Over Law is meant to keep all emergency personnel safe on the road. If a driver is caught not moving over, he or she can be ticketed and issued a fine. 

The northbound lanes of I-295 was closed for more than two hours while the accident was investigated and cleared.