January 13, 2023
On January 4th, 2023, a car accident sent multiple people to the hospital in need of medical attention. An investigation is underway involving a scene that occurred overnight in West Palm Beach, Florida. Among those injured was a police officer and several members of the public. West Palm Beach law enforcement stated this incident happened around 10:30 p.m. when an undercover officer tried to halt a Ford Crown Victoria at Tamarind Avenue and 8th Street. There were two people in the Ford, both a man and woman, in which the driver backed up into two police vehicles and sped off.
West Palm Beach police have found the car driver that escaped the traffic stop as Willie Brown, Jr. of Boynton Beach. The passenger in his vehicle was Charlene Brown of Miami. As Brown backed into two police cars, he also struck an officer who was on foot and dragged him prior to taking off. The police officer sustained a leg injury, was taken to the hospital, received medical attention, and was released.
After attempting to halt the driver, officers pursued the Ford briefly but then called it off. Brown had hit two other vehicles at the intersection of Division Avenue and 15th Street. The driver was traveling at a high rate of speed when he entered the intersection, sped through the stop sign, and struck a west and east bound vehicle, van, and a KIA, as they were passing with sufficient force to overturn the van. Those in the accident were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, received treatment, and released.
Brown and passenger Charlene were hospitalized for serious conditions but law enforcement stated they are anticipated to survive. Police say that the situation could have been more tragic, and that the offender will face charges for fleeing and eluding police, in addition to aggravated battery upon release from the hospital.
As the team at Tuttle Larsen, P.A. have seen before, all too often people who were just going about their day can suddenly become victims n a serious accident where physical injury and property damage result. Every person who gets behind the driver’s seat of a vehicle has the duty to drive it safely and with regard for others who share the road. In the example provided here, a driver had not only attempted to elude police, but was reckless with the lives of those nearby. The prosecution will pursue charges on the criminal level for the incident. However, what happens to the victims who were part of the crash? Many people in this same situation would reach out to a Port St. Lucie, FL car accident lawyer about filing a civil case against the offending driver. Through a personal injury lawsuit, the victims can seek restitution for their medical bills, property damage or replacement, loss of earnings, and other ways their life has been affected. When someone is reckless and it leads to the harm of others, those victims can take legal action and seek monetary repayment for what they endured.