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Texas cop’s speed questioned in crash that killed second officer
By Ken Rodriguez
San Antonio Express-News
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — One police officer is dead. A second lies in serious condition.
That’s what SAPD woke up to on Tuesday, a morning steeped in pain and devastation.
“Everybody,” said one officer who isn’t cleared to speak with the media, “is preparing for a funeral.”
By the grace of God, it appears there will be only one.
Robert Davis succumbed Monday night to injuries suffered in a horrific traffic accident.
A second injured officer, David Seaton, has stabilized with severe injuries. But officers say he came close to dying. They say he suffered broken legs, a fractured pelvis, a perforated aorta, head injuries and memory loss.
“People are stunned,” said another officer who isn’t authorized to comment, “and trying to wrap their minds around it. Everybody is still trying to process what their feelings should be.”
The emotionally complicating factor for police is culpability. One of their own caused a tragedy.
Davis was clearing flares on Potranco Road on Friday when Seaton came racing by en route to a shoplifting call.
One officer says a computer reading showed Seaton’s cruiser exceeded 100 mph.
The cruiser struck a civilian’s car and then hit Davis. The civilian, Darrell Lampkin, suffered serious injuries.
An incident report showed Seaton was speeding and ran a light or stop sign. The police chief says the findings are preliminary, but officers know enough to feel conflicted.
“He shouldn’t have been speeding,” said a third cop who isn’t permitted to comment, “but that’s the nature of the beast. We have to get going quickly. It could happen to any one of us.”
One officer I spoke with expressed frustration with colleagues. Yes, Seaton was speeding, the officer acknowledged, but no one should second-guess him. Few if any officers know what Seaton heard over the radio. Besides, no one knows what Seaton was thinking as he sped along Potranco. Not even Seaton. Officers say he doesn’t remember the accident.
In tragedy, officers rally behind their own. In this case, they’re reaching out to the Davis and Seaton families. At the same time, some also are asking questions.
At or near the top of the list: “How could this happen?”
On the one hand, officers say they’re trained to provide immediate help. Sometimes that means blowing past the speed limit.
As one officer told me, “We normally drive fast all the time. People need help now. They don’t need it 20 minutes from now. At the same time, was speeding justified in this case? No.”
No one in blue doubts Seaton was trying to do his job. No one questions his intent to serve and protect. But more than a few are grappling with the unknown.
Why, some wonder, did Seaton drive so fast to a theft, a “code one” call? And why, as one cop close to the investigation says, did he respond without lights and sirens?
No matter how thorough the investigation, some questions might never be answered.
One cop familiar with the investigation says the theft call was canceled and broadcast on the police radio.
Did Seaton hear it?
Seaton is in no condition to answer. For all the lingering questions, one hurting colleague offered this: “If anyone has anything to say, it should be a prayer for him.”
Copyright 2008 San Antonio Express-News