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Tigard Police Officer-involved Crash Findings

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	City of Tigard 13125 SW Hall Blvd. Tigard, Oregon 97223	Press Release November 10, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact:	Jim Wolf, Public Information Officer Tigard Police Department 503-718-2561 Pager: 503-795-2391 jim@tigard-or.gov

Tigard Police Officer-involved Crash Findings
The Washington County Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) recently released their findings from an investigation surrounding a crash involving a Tigard Police patrol vehicle. The incident occurred on September 3, 2011 at approximately 8:20 p.m. at the intersections of SW Walnut Street and Watkins Avenue in Tigard. The Tigard Police officer operating the vehicle was en route to an emergency call at the time of the crash.

The outcome of the investigation identified the crash as preventable. Investigators' remarks indicated that the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash had enough time to yield and move out of the way from the approaching patrol vehicle from behind. Video from inside the patrol vehicle shows the motorist turning left and directly in front of the officer who is attempting to go around. The motorist, 65-year-old Clyde Rizzutto of Tigard was cited for "Failure to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle." (ORS 811.145)

CART is a multi-agency team of specially trained law enforcement officers from the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Beaverton, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, King City, Tigard and Tualatin Police Departments. The Washington County District Attorney's Office has also assigned deputy district attorneys to the team.