Six members of a family were killed and a police officer was injured near Columbus, Ohio early Friday morning when a police officer responded to a robbery report, with his lights flashing and sirens blaring, and hit a car in an intersection. According to police, the officer’s dash-camera video showed the victims’ Toyota Corolla had a red light and the car came to a complete stop in the middle of the intersection just before the crash occurred. Officer Shawn Paynter was responding to a report of an armed robbery at a fast-food restaurant in Upper Arlington when the crash occurred around 1:30 a.m.
The Toyota Corolla was operated by a Columbus man, with his wife in the front passenger seat and their four children in the back seat. According to Chief Robert Oppenheimer of Perry Township police, no one in that vehicle was wearing a seatbelt and the youngest child was not in a child restraint. Oppenheimer further stated, “That car was just totaled, and they probably died instantly.” The family members who died in the crash were Eid Badi Shahad, Entisar W. Hameed, Shuaa Badi, Amna Badi, Ekbal Badi, and Lina Badi. The family came to the United States about three years ago as refugees from Basra, Iraq.
On one side of the intersection sits a shopping center, with a river and a park on the other side. The intersection is usually quite busy during the day, with hundreds of cars passing through. Officer Paynter is being treated for a serious head injury at a local hospital, but is listed in stable condition. Officer Paynter was in shock when he learned of the deaths. He is expected to be interviewed by investigators in the coming days. Chief Oppenheimer says the dash-camera footage reveals the cruiser entering the intersection as the light was turning from green to yellow. The victims’ car entered the intersection on a red light and then came to a dead stop. Officers are uncertain whether they will ever know why Eid Badi Shahad came to a complete stop in the intersection.
6 killed, officer hurt in crash near Ohio capital, www.miamiherald.com October 18, 2013
The loss of a child is one of the most difficult experiences a family could face. Unfortunately, here, the lives of a four children and two adults were taken much too soon. Intersections are some of the most dangerous places to be on roadways. Tragic accidents can occur at intersections due to things like faulty parts in a vehicle, speeding, failure to yield or stop, or distracted driving. Often drivers misestimate how much room they have to complete a turn or are unable to see vehicles traveling on the roadway they wish to enter and this can lead to devastating collisions that cause serious injuries or even death. The Fort Lauderdale automobile accident attorneys at the Friedland | Carmona have over two decades of experience working with victims of intersection accidents who have sustained serious injuries. The Coral Gables insurance litigation attorneys work hard to help their clients recover compensation for their injuries, pain and suffering, and lost wages. If you or a loved one has suffered serious or fatal injuries in a motor vehicle accident, call (305) 661-2008 today for your free consultation.
The Miami personal injury attorneys at the Friedland | Carmona handle all types of car accident cases throughout the state of Florida, including Boca Raton, Homestead, North Miami, South Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Pembroke Pines, Hialeah, Kendall, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach. The Friedland | Carmona handles all types of personal injury cases, including wrongful death, defective products, medical malpractice, slip and falls, and construction site injuries. Call the Miami personal injury attorneys today and let our family take care of your family!