Charlotte Observer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A police officer was traveling 93 miles per hour before crashing while responding to a call in SouthPark earlier this week, a report just released from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says.
Officer Joseph Willinsky, 23, was on his way to the Strawberry Hill Apartments on Providence Road when he crashed his patrol car.
It happened at about 3:35 a.m. Wednesday on Fairview Road near the intersection of Sharon Road.
A report released Friday morning from the police department says Willinsky has his lights and siren activated as he headed for the apartments from the intersection of Park and Woodlawn roads. Willinsky traveled at at speeds up to 93 mph, the report states.
Willinsky’s vehicle came in contact with an elevated roadway at the intersection of Fairview and Sharon roads, his vehicle bottomed out and the officer lost control. He crashed into an embankment at 62 mph, according to the report.
Willinsky remains in critical condition at the hospital.
“We’re very hopeful and prayerful that he can pull through this,” said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe.
Willinsky was only a mile away from that call when he crashed.
“We know that he was responding to…a stolen automobile in progress or a theft from a vehicle,” said Monroe.
Willinsky was not wearing a seatbelt, according to police.
According to a department spokesperson Rob Tufano, “Police officers are not exempt from state statute requiring people to wear seatbelts when driving.”
“It was a very, very violent impact, so much so, that even if he possibly were in a seatbelt, that impact pretty much would’ve ripped that seatbelt out,” said Monroe.
Willinsky is a Penn State University graduate. He graduated from the police academy in February 2009. He was hired by CMPD in September.
He’s a patrol officer with the Providence Division.
“During the time I was taking some of my classes, I was in class with him and I also know his father and spoke to his mother during graduation,” said Monroe.
Willinsky’s father is a crime scene technician for the police department, as a civilian, not a sworn officer.
Several of the officer’s friends and colleagues are posting messages on Facebook. One writes, “I’m praying for you buddy, please stay with us.” Another says “I’m looking forward to you getting out of the hospital so we can play some b-ball again.” Another co-worker posted the message “Prayers are necessary, come on Joe.”
Harold Aurand, an associate professor of history at Penn State University, recalled Willinsky as an outspoken student in class who studied hard and made friends easily.
Copyright 2009 Charlotte Observer