Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Seizure may be cause of detective's car crash

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Tuesday, October 10, 2000

Seizure may be cause of detective's car crash
Witnesses say the officer slumped before her vehicle veered onto trailer and flipped off
By Mary Moreno
Caller-Times

George Gongora/Caller-Times

Detective Julie Hernandez was pinned in her car as firefighters and police try to rescue her on Monday. She suffered ankle injuries. Traffic investigator Chris Lynch said emergency medical personnel suspected Hernandez may have had a seizure.

An on-duty police detective may have had a seizure causing her unmarked vehicle to veer from its lane, travel up a ramp of a parked vehicle transport trailer and flip off, police said.
   Detective Julie Hernandez's car landed upside down, said Chris Lynch, a traffic investigator with the Corpus Christi Police Department. The trailer was parked in the 1000 block of Agnes Street.
   She was taken to Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline with ankle injuries.
   Lynch said Hernandez had undergone surgery to repair her ankle, and that she was doing well.
   Fire Capt. Robert Polanco was driving behind Hernandez and said the car was eastbound just before the accident.
   "She seemed to have everything under control," Polanco said.

George Gongora/Caller-Times

Corpus Christi Police Commander U.B. Alvarado (from left), Police Chief Pete Alvarez and City Manager David Garcia look over the accident site.

   But he said Hernandez veered to the right after crossing Staples Street.
   "She hit the ramp and it just rolled," he said.
   The front driver's side tire of the car broke off on impact with the trailer's ramp.
   A headlight and bumper fell off as the car traveled to the top of the ramp.
   The car fell from the top of the trailer, about a 5-foot drop, and skidded a few feet on its roof, Lynch said.
   Polanco stopped to help Hernandez, not knowing she was a police officer.
   Hernandez was unconscious when he arrived, and was startled once she regained consciousness.
   "She came out of it and she was combative," Polanco said. "She wanted to slug me."

George Gongora/Caller-Times

James Bonds was unloading cars for Staples Motors when police detective Julie Hernandez drove up his trailer and flipped off.

   Lynch said Hernandez was alert when she was taken to the hospital.
   Emergency medical personnel told Lynch that it seemed Hernandez had suffered a seizure.
   Lynch said Hernandez had seizure medication in the car and that a seizure would explain her combativeness when she regained consciousness.
   Witnesses also told Lynch that seconds before hitting the trailer, Hernandez had slumped over to one side.
   In an interview at the hospital, Hernandez could not remember the accident, Lynch said.
   Lynch was not sure if Hernandez would be cited in the accident. The trailer was parked legally.


Staff writer Mary Moreno can be reached at 886-3774 or by e-mail at morenom@caller.com

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