Lakeville Police Assist with ‘Complex Crash Scene Investigation’

Editor's Note: The following features are from Lakeville Police Chief Thomas Vonhof's weekly newsletter, "Breezes."

Sergeant Bill Gerl’s patrol team was working last week when they responded to the fatal motorcycle crash on Cedar Avenue and the entire team did a great job in handling a complex crash scene investigation.

The same patrol team was on duty just five days later when they responded to assist Apple Valley PD officers with a fatal motorcycle crash at the intersection of Harwell Avenue and County Road 46 in Apple Valley. The crash occurred when a car made a left hand turn directly in the path of the motorcycle. In spite of the efforts of the first responders, the motorcyclist died at the scene. The driver of the car was arrested at the scene on suspicion of impaired driving and placed in jail pending formal charges. Officers Tom Danielson and Sara Brockman assisted Apple Valley officers with the initial crash scene response and closing off the busy intersection for the time it took to complete the traffic crash scene investigation. Sergeant Bill Gerl and Officer Shawn Fitzhenry also responded to the traffic crash scene to assist. Officer Kevin O’Neill, who was at a crime prevention meeting in a nearby neighborhood, also responded.

Because the crash occurred right on the border between Apple Valley and Lakeville, a Lakeville Fire Department Rescue Unit responded to the crash as well. The North Air Care helicopter was requested by the first responders and also responded to the scene. 

With this being the second fatal crash in the area in the past week involving a motorcycle, it can serve as a reminder to all drivers to be alert and watch for motorcycles when driving.

OFFICERS COMPLETE COURSE

Officer Tom Danielson and Officer Anna Limbeck successfully completed their basic police officer Bicycle Patrol course sponsored by the Airport Police Department last week. The two officers were trained in how to conduct patrol operations with a police patrol bike. They will join our group of about 80% patrol and reserve officers who are cross trained as patrol bike officers. We have cross trained officers to use patrol bikes since 1995. The patrol bikes are deployed in residential neighborhoods, parks and at community events with large crowds such as the upcoming Pan-O-Prog events. The patrol bikes are more efficient than foot patrol and give officers the ability to patrol a large area where the use of a squad car would be impractical.

WEEKLY LPD SNAPSHOT

Sampling of LPD activity for the week of June 20 – 27, 2013

Traffic crashes 4 Alarms 42 Animal Calls 51

Medical Emergency Calls 21 Thefts 17 Traffic Stops 192