Woman plans to file lawsuit after car accident involving police officer

A woman from Flanders, New Jersey, plans to file a lawsuit against the city following a crash, blaming a police officer whom she alleges was talking on her cell phone at the time of the crash, the Mount Olive Chronicle reports.

According to the news source, the woman, 32-year-old Danielle C. LaLonde, claims the officer was on her phone when she traveled through a red light and struck the car LaLonde was traveling in. The claims were officially made through a notice of intent to sue the township for the accident, which took place on April 25.

In the letter of intent, LaLonde contends she was driving her 2012 Honda Civic on Flanders-Netcong Road when she crossed Route 206 at about 10:20 p.m. She says her car was then hit by a police cruiser driven by Officer Marianne L. Wurtemberg as she was driving in the northbound lanes of the highway.

In LaLonde's assertion, Wurtemberg was driving without the emergency lights on, and the siren did not sound as she drove through the intersection, passed through a red light, and allegedly collided with LaLonde.

LaLonde's car accident attorney filed a notification on June 11 that claimed 38-year-old Wurtemberg was talking on her cell phone at the time of the accident.

Police reports show Wurtemberg was chasing an unnamed "violator" as she drove through the red light and hit the left side of LaLonde's car. The impact reportedly pushed the car off the road, and forced LaLonde to crash into a tree. The report corroborates LaLonde's assertion that Wurtemberg was driving without her warning lights illuminated or her siren on, according to the news source.

The officer suffered injuries and was airlifted to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where she was treated and later released. LaLonde was treated at the scene for minor injuries, police reports show.

All over the country, distracted driving has led to thousands of fatal car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving includes any activity that could keep a driver from performing the primary task of driving. These include texting, talking on a cell phone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, and reading.

In 2010, 3,092 people were killed in crashes that were determined to be caused by distracted driving, while another 416,000 people were injured in such accidents. 

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