By Dana Treen
Florida Times-Union
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A busy Jacksonville street was jammed with police and closed for four hours Wednesday morning as officers worked the scene and waited to learn what happened to one of their own involved in a three-car wreck with multiple victims.
Officer Terry A. Thiem, 45, a six-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, was the worst injured of nine people involved in the West Beaver Street crash after his patrol car collided with two other vehicles.
Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Bill Leeper said Thiem was in critical condition at Shands Jacksonville. His medical condition was not available from the hospital Wednesday night.
Thiem was westbound on West Beaver responding to a burglary call about 7:15 a.m. when Katrina Bobbitt, 30, of Jacksonville attempted to turn left onto the road from Line Street. Her Pontiac Grand Prix struck the side of the patrol car, which spun sideways after the impact and was struck by an eastbound Pontiac Vibe with five teenage riders and a 34-year-old driver.
B.K. Banks said he was standing in the doorway of Jaguar Taxi, where he is a senior dispatcher, when he saw the crash.
He said bystanders were running to the wreckage to help the young people who were trying to get out of the Vibe. He said Thiem had been ejected into the street.
He was not wearing a seat belt , Leeper said.
Banks said he thinks the officer was driving at least 60 mph.
Witnesses said the patrol car’s emergency systems were on and a surveillance camera confirmed that the lights were activated when it was hit by Bobbitt’s car, Leeper said.
After being hit by Bobbitt’s car, the patrol car spun counterclockwise twice before hitting the Vibe. Both the trunk and hood of the patrol car were torn open and the rear bumper was nearly peeled off. The driver’s front corner of the Vibe was crushed in the accident that heavily damaged the front of the Grand Prix.
The roof of the Vibe had to be removed so paramedics could reach the passengers, and school papers were strewn all over the road.
Leeper said no one had been ticketed Wednesday, but the investigation is continuing.
Bobbitt had a 5-year-old child with her but the two were not hurt, Leeper said. Both wore seat belts. Bobbitt’s driving record in Jacksonville has citations for driving without a license, driving an unsafe vehicle and failure to wear a seat belt, all from 2007.
Danny Lashawn Jones was driving the Vibe and suffered serious injuries, Leeper said. The passengers were Larrance Stanley, 13, and Monisa Wright, Jameisha Moultrie, Garrison Wright and Preston Hordage, all 14. Only Monisa had her safety belt on, but all reported minor injuries.
Copyright 2011 The Florida Times-Union