At 11:41 am on Tuesday, July 19, 2016, EPD Officer Allen Gansman stopped to assist a stalled motorist on eastbound Highway 66 (Diamond Avenue) approximately 500 feet west of Kratzville Road. The stalled motorist, a Chrysler minivan, was stopped in the right-hand lane of eastbound Diamond.
Officer Gansman activated the emergency lights on his motorcycle and parked on the shoulder of the roadway behind the van. Traffic began to merge from the right lane into the left lane, yielding to the stopped emergency vehicle.
As Officer Gansman began to push the van off the roadway onto the shoulder in order to clear the traffic lane, a Toyota pick-up truck being operated by a seventeen-year-old was traveling eastbound on Highway 66 in the right-hand lane approaching the area where officer Gansman’s vehicle was parked. The truck failed to slow down and move to the opposite lane, yielding to the emergency vehicle as required by law.
As the truck continued eastbound, it drifted off the roadway onto the shoulder, striking the EPD motorcycle causing it to be propelled forward striking officer Gansman. The impact of the motorcycle then drove the officer into the van.
The investigation revealed that the juvenile driver of the truck was texting when the collision occurred. Neither the juvenile nor the driver of the stalled vehicle were injured in the collision, however the juvenile was transported to the hospital to have blood drawn for testing. The driver of the stalled van was also transported to the hospital for evaluation.
Officer Gansman suffered serious injuries including a number of fractures to his legs. He was conscious and able to speak at the scene of the collision. He was transported to Deaconess Hospital for treatment where he has undergone surgery with more scheduled. Officer Gansman has a long recovery ahead of him, but is in good spirits.
The investigation is ongoing and an evaluation is being done to determine the appropriate charges for the juvenile driver. Traffic Collision Involving E.P.D. Motor Officer – Update
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