Deputy 'lucky' to be OK
By RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
A Sonoma County sheriff's deputy, about to throw down a spike strip to try to stop an approaching speeding car, instead dove for his life as the sport-utility vehicle came at him, clipping him in the leg, sheriff's officials said Monday.
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"There's a boot mark smeared across the hood of that vehicle. That's how lucky he was," said Sheriff's Sgt. Kevin Young, who spoke to the injured deputy as he was being loaded into an ambulance.
Deputy Brett Fairbanks was recuperating at home Monday after being released from the hospital with a broken ankle, Capt. Dave Edmonds said.
He was hit early Sunday by a 16-year-old suspected of drunken driving. The teen driver plowed into the deputy's patrol car, demolishing it, after hitting the deputy.
The driver was leading another deputy on a chase through east Petaluma just after midnight when he struck Fairbanks.
The Petaluma teen was being held in Juvenile Hall. His name was not released because he is a minor.
The teen was driving on a suspended license and on probation for a prior conviction, Petaluma police said.
Fairbanks patrols the south county. He was in the Petaluma area when he heard the chase start.
He drove to the west end of Corona Road where he anticipated the chase was headed. Fairbanks pulled over near Industrial Avenue near the base of the overpass and got his spike strip out of his trunk.
"He ran to the side of the roadway to throw it out," Young said.
But too quickly the Toyota Highlander was headed down the overpass, directly for him, Young said.
Fairbanks dropped the strip.
"He turned and ran. The car went to turn north onto Industrial and hit his right leg," Young said.
Fairbanks was thrown several feet by the impact. The teen driver then traveled about 35 more feet and smashed into the deputy's Ford Crown Victoria patrol car.
Young estimated the Highlander was traveling between 50 mph and 65 mph when it hit the deputy and patrol car.
The impact pushed the squad car about a foot off of its frame and crushed the driver's side, Young said.
Fairbanks was conscious after being hit and said he knew he had broken bones. He also could hear the siren of the chase deputy approaching and quickly dragged himself to the side of the roadway.
"He crawled away about 25 feet. He knew he had to get out of the way," Young said.
When Petaluma officers arrived they found the teen still in the SUV. He wasn't pinned but may have been unconscious after hitting the air bag, Young said.
The teen was taken to Petaluma Valley Hospital to check for injuries and was cleared to go to Juvenile Hall.
The teen was arrested on suspicion of driving drunk, evading officers and driving without a license.
The police chase had started minutes earlier outside the city on the far east side of town.
Deputy Michael Yoder was patrolling when he saw the Highlander run a stop sign while turning onto Adobe Road from Sonoma Mountain Road, Young said.
The driver turned wide, into the deputy's path, and the deputy had to swerve to avoid being hit, Young said.
Yoder then flipped around and tried to pull over the Highlander. The driver stopped, briefly.
"As Michael got out of his car, it sped off again," Young said.
The driver blew through two more stop signs as he drove as fast as 100 mph, weaving as he went, Yoder said. The driver finally sped through a red light on North McDowell Boulevard and headed over the Corona overpass where he ran into Fairbanks.
Fairbanks underwent surgery Sunday morning to repair the ankle. He could be out of work for several months.
Hope and pray for a quick recovery! You Rock my face off Brett
Deputy 'lucky' to be OK
By RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
A Sonoma County sheriff's deputy, about to throw down a spike strip to try to stop an approaching speeding car, instead dove for his life as the sport-utility vehicle came at him, clipping him in the leg, sheriff's officials said Monday.
ADVERTISEMENT
"There's a boot mark smeared across the hood of that vehicle. That's how lucky he was," said Sheriff's Sgt. Kevin Young, who spoke to the injured deputy as he was being loaded into an ambulance.
Deputy Brett Fairbanks was recuperating at home Monday after being released from the hospital with a broken ankle, Capt. Dave Edmonds said.
He was hit early Sunday by a 16-year-old suspected of drunken driving. The teen driver plowed into the deputy's patrol car, demolishing it, after hitting the deputy.
The driver was leading another deputy on a chase through east Petaluma just after midnight when he struck Fairbanks.
The Petaluma teen was being held in Juvenile Hall. His name was not released because he is a minor.
The teen was driving on a suspended license and on probation for a prior conviction, Petaluma police said.
Fairbanks patrols the south county. He was in the Petaluma area when he heard the chase start.
He drove to the west end of Corona Road where he anticipated the chase was headed. Fairbanks pulled over near Industrial Avenue near the base of the overpass and got his spike strip out of his trunk.
"He ran to the side of the roadway to throw it out," Young said.
But too quickly the Toyota Highlander was headed down the overpass, directly for him, Young said.
Fairbanks dropped the strip.
"He turned and ran. The car went to turn north onto Industrial and hit his right leg," Young said.
Fairbanks was thrown several feet by the impact. The teen driver then traveled about 35 more feet and smashed into the deputy's Ford Crown Victoria patrol car.
Young estimated the Highlander was traveling between 50 mph and 65 mph when it hit the deputy and patrol car.
The impact pushed the squad car about a foot off of its frame and crushed the driver's side, Young said.
Fairbanks was conscious after being hit and said he knew he had broken bones. He also could hear the siren of the chase deputy approaching and quickly dragged himself to the side of the roadway.
"He crawled away about 25 feet. He knew he had to get out of the way," Young said.
When Petaluma officers arrived they found the teen still in the SUV. He wasn't pinned but may have been unconscious after hitting the air bag, Young said.
The teen was taken to Petaluma Valley Hospital to check for injuries and was cleared to go to Juvenile Hall.
The teen was arrested on suspicion of driving drunk, evading officers and driving without a license.
The police chase had started minutes earlier outside the city on the far east side of town.
Deputy Michael Yoder was patrolling when he saw the Highlander run a stop sign while turning onto Adobe Road from Sonoma Mountain Road, Young said.
The driver turned wide, into the deputy's path, and the deputy had to swerve to avoid being hit, Young said.
Yoder then flipped around and tried to pull over the Highlander. The driver stopped, briefly.
"As Michael got out of his car, it sped off again," Young said.
The driver blew through two more stop signs as he drove as fast as 100 mph, weaving as he went, Yoder said. The driver finally sped through a red light on North McDowell Boulevard and headed over the Corona overpass where he ran into Fairbanks.
Fairbanks underwent surgery Sunday morning to repair the ankle. He could be out of work for several months.
Hope and pray for a quick recovery! You Rock my face off Brett
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