On Tuesday, February 11, at around 8:45 a.m. the officers of the West Police Department were called to the scene of an accident that involved Officer Ashley Boyd and his police SUV.
The accident happened along Interstate 35 south at Marable Street. Due to the wetness on the roads, an unnamed driver was unable to stop and ended up colliding with Officer Boyd.
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It is probable that the cause of the accident was hydroplaning. Hydroplaning is when a vehicle slides uncontrollably on a wet road. This is due to the layer of water that is on top of the surface of the road causing the contact between the road and the tire to become interrupted. When this connection is interrupted it can cause the steering functions to become ineffective.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are beginning to hydroplane, it is important to remember not to panic. Panicking can cause you to suddenly accelerate or brake and in both of those situations, it can cause the vehicle to act erratically.
To avoid hydroplaning as much as possible, it is important to make sure that proper tire care procedures are followed. This includes things like proper inflation, rotation, and balancing.
Try to stay away from puddles and standing water if possible since those areas also provide the perfect environment for your vehicle to hydroplane.
Hydroplaning can cause serious accidents to occur. Luckily, Officer Boyd escaped the accident with only whiplash.
After the accident, he was checked out at Baylor Scott and White Hillcrest and was reported to have no broken bones or serious injuries. Whiplash is caused by abrupt changes in the position of the neck and head. This happens when the force of the vehicle is interrupted and the head and neck jerk violently in the opposite direction.
Officer Boyd is only expected to be out with the injury for a few days.