Thursday night at 9:15 p.m. the NC State Highway Patrol responded to Highway 74 east, where a Richmond County Sheriff’s deputy’s patrol car had overturned.
According to State Highway Patrolman John Martin, who responded to the scene, Deputy Landon Douglas Cowick flipped his patrol car onto the right shoulder due to excess rainwater in the roadway.
“There was a heavy downpour at the time and the deputy was heading east, and water was crossing the road from north to south,” said Martin.
Martin said Cowick was traveling to Hamlet at 55 mph, with blue-lights on. According to Martin, Cowick was responding to a reported kidnapping and possible shooting at which one deputy was already on scene and had called for backup.
Martin said Cowick sustained “multiple lacerations to the head.” He was taken to FirstHealth Richmond Memorial in Rockingham for treatment.
“His injuries were not life threatening,” said Martin. “It was a terrible crash — he was very lucky.”
Martin said the patrol vehicle cannot be repaired. No other vehicles were involved, and no one else was injured.
The accident is still being investigated.
I don't care if you feel the need to take up for an officer's behavior. What I do care about is the safety of my family that may be traveling the same highway. What do they tell the family if the officers car would have flipped into the other lane and killed an innocent passenger in another vehichle. "I'm sorry ma'am, your baby didn't survive the impact., but our officer was traveling 55 in what he described as a "downpour", the accident is being investigated. Oh yeah, there was a kidnapping call he was enroute as backup. Was there kidnapping and shooting, would love to read this story please tell me where it is?
Look at what has been going on in law enforcement agencies throughout the surrounding areas. Resignation after resignation. And just curious, why are there so many officers seen taking their kids to school in public vehicles. Why drive police or sheriff cars home? Firemen don't drive fire trucks home? If you are working your patrol car shouldn't be at home and if you are NOT working, your car shouldn't be at home. If the rules allow it then the laws need to change.
My facebook friends posted right as it happened. Secondly, a KIDNAPPING AND SHOOTING! Wow that's read worthy!! Where's that story at in the Journal? No, maybe I missed it, please point out it's location. I would like to read it. Thirdly, what a nice legally rounded number, 55, hmmmm. There aren't very many officers that ever go the speed limit, we all know that. Especially if they are "ON A CALL".
And finally WHO IS DOING THE INVESTIGATING? I truely
Hope the investigating officers follow the letter of the LAW because, WHAT IS DONE IN THE DARK WILL COME TO THE LIGHT!!!!!!!!!!