Palatine police officer cleared in crash that injured pedestrian

A Palatine police officer has been cleared of wrongdoing in the May 2 crash involving his squad car and a pedestrian.

According to the findings of the Arlington Heights Accident Reconstruction Specialist's investigation, the unidentified officer's "reaction to the pedestrian's intrusion was appropriate."

In addition to interviews and an examination of the crash scene and vehicle, the probe included a review of video captured by a red-light camera installed at Rand and Dundee roads.

At 3:22 a.m. May 2, a 21-year-old Palatine man ran across Dundee Road and collided with the squad car heading east on Dundee Road as it responded to a 911 call. The man was struck by the squad car just east of Rand Road.

The probe concluded the pedestrian "failed to react and yield" to the squad car. The report states that several factors diminished the officer's ability to react: The pedestrian was running, didn't use the crosswalk and was dressed all in black, including his hooded sweatshirt, pants, shoes and hat.

The squad car, traveling 47 to 49 mph, entered the intersection during a yellow traffic light. Its headlamps and emergency lights were illuminated, according to the report.

"Most pedestrians under identical circumstances would have reacted appropriately and yielded to (the vehicle)," the report states.

It goes on to say that the officer maneuvered to the right as the pedestrian ran toward the vehicle from the officer's left.

Police declined to say where the man had been before the incident, only that he was on his way home. He remains at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. His exact condition is unknown, but Palatine police said he "has a long road to recovery due to the injuries sustained in this crash."

The man won't be cited in the incident, police said.

Authorities also said that, on May 5, a relative of the victim viewed the red-light camera's video recording. Final results of the Arlington Heights police investigation were shared on Tuesday. As is standard practice, an outside agency, rather than the Palatine police, handled the investigation because the crash involved a Palatine officer.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family," Palatine police said in a release.