Manhattan, NY – A New Jersey man says a traffic cop directed him into an accident that left his car totaled.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Diogenes Tavarez, 61, says he was driving his car near the entrance of the Holland Tunnel last November “when his vehicle was violently struck” by another car which had been “directed to proceed” by the not so-eagle-eyed traffic cop.
Tavarez says he “was injured and sustained other damages” in the smashup, and his 2004 Honda needed $15,000 worth of repairs.
He’s suing the driver who ran into his car, the city, the NYPD and the officer who was directing traffic, who’s only identified as “R. Jones,” for $5 million.
Jones, the action says, was “negligent, careless and reckless” and had been “directing traffic in said area with a total disregard for the health, safety and welfare of others.”
A spokeswoman for the city Law Department said, “We are awaiting the formal legal papers but will review them upon receipt.”
He should be dues for stupidity. For relying on a traffic cop
the new american dream, sue.
I’ve seen instances where cops violate traffic laws; recently, while attempting to enter an interstate highway, a state trooper who was in back of me attempted to cut me off from the rear, when I attempted to legally enter a lane on the road in front of me. He did not have his lights or siren on, and was just driving recklessly. Also, on another highway, a motorcyle cop was tailgaiting me, as he wanted to go faster, even though the posted speed limit was 45mph on that highway. These are just two instances, where unformed law enforcement officers violate the traffic laws every day. Regarding the plaintiff’s lawsuit, while visiting Manhattan in 1999, near Grand Central Station, a policewoman (she couldn’t have been more than 5 feet in stature), directed me to cross a street near Grand Central Station. I was reluctant to cross because of all the traffic. As soon as I crossed the street, a large truck came out of nowhere, and almost struck me. She started yelling at the truck. However, one cannot always depend on traffic directions from cops, as they err quite often.