The Fairfax County Police Department (VA) released dashcam video of when an out-of-control speeding car slammed into a stopped motorist and an officer during a traffic stop. After being hit, the officer immediately got back up and started checking for injured motorists.
A Fairfax County patrol officer was on a routine traffic stop May 1, around 11:38 a.m. He was roadside speaking with the driver of a 2012 BMW 750 Series sedan.
The video shows a black 2918 BMW M3 traveling at a high rate of speed on the opposite side of the divided four-lane highway. Police say the 17-year-old driver lost control of the car and the BMW spun around, crossed the median, struck the community member’s vehicle, and then the officer’s patrol vehicle.
Police say the officer was struck, but only sustained minor injuries.
The adult driver who had been stopped by the officer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening and has been released from the hospital. The juvenile driver of the BMW M3 and the two passengers sustained minor injuries. The juvenile was charged with reckless driving.
“We are relieved this crash did not result in a tragedy. This is an important reminder that life can change in an instant. It is the driver’s responsibility to drive safely and arrive safely,” the agency says in a social media post.
“Parents and guardians should consider using this video as an opportunity to have a conversation with their teen drivers about how their driving behavior can affect the lives of others. We are committed to traffic safety and will continue to enforce traffic laws and educate drivers in an attempt to curb the senseless loss of life that occurs during preventable fatal crashes.”