Tag Archives: police officer

Laguna Beach Officer in Fatal Crash

Laguna Beach Officer was killed in a crash involving a pickup truck late Saturday.

Jon Coutchie was a 41 year old motorcycle officer. He was travelling northbound on South Coast Highway. Coutchie was trying to find a motorist who had been reported speeding.  Unfortunately, he was broadsided when a GMC pickup attempted to turn onto Cleo Street. The accident took place at around 11:30 p.m.

The GMC pickup truck was attempting to make a left turn. The driver collided into Coutchie’s Honda ST 1300. Coutchie was thrown from the motorcycle. Two officers reported to the scene of the accident. By the time the officers reported to the scene, Coutchie had already succumbed to his injuries.

The driver of the pickup was a 20 year old. The driver stayed at the scene of the accident. Investigators questioned the driver, and he was released. Police do not believe alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash. The California Highway Patrol is investigation the crash. It is not clear whether Jon Coutchie had his lights or siren on.

Coutchie is the first Laguna Beach officer to die in the line of duty since 1953. Before he was a police officer, he served as an U.S. Army Ranger. He was a ranger from 2003 to 2007. Coutchie joined the military after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and he served two tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Coutchie was given an honorable discharge.

He started working as a part-time jailer at the Laguna Beach Police Department. The Laguna Beach Police Department sponsored him through the Goldenwest Police Academy in 2008. He became an officer in 2009. Captain Jason Kravetz described Coutchie has a hard working officer who was passionate about his job.

Coutchie was well liked in the department. The department is a small department of 47 police officers and 40 non-sworn staff members. This death was a shock to the whole department. The department created a makeshift memorial of flowers, balloons, and an American flag were erected near the scene of the crash. Coutchie is survived by his parents, brother, stepsister, and girlfriend.  The accident took place 11 days before Coutchie’s 42nd birthday.

If you are ever in a motorcycle accident, contact a Laguna Beach motorcycle accident lawyers. Motorcycle accidents are often serious and even fatal. A Laguna Beach motorcycle accident lawyer will make sure you are fairly compensated for all the damages.

 

 

Off Duty Officer Killed in Crash

An off-duty Costa Mesa police detective was killed in a crash because driving drunk and texting.

The police detective was a 57 year old veteran officer. He was driving his 2000 Mazda and crashed in an underpass beneath the 55 freeway. He collided into a concrete pillar. The collision occurred near Newport Boulevard and Bristol Street on March 5th.

He was not wearing a seat belt, at the time of the crash. This probably contributed to his death. The officer also had a 0.14 blood-alcohol level before he died. He had been drinking at Mi Casa restaurant between 5 and 8 p.m. The officer then went to Skosh Monahan’s between 9 and 10 p.m. After he left the second restaurant, he collided in the underpass.

The Newport Beach Police Department has determined that the primary cause of the crash was that the officer was driving under the influence of alcohol. He was impaired, which made turning difficult and unsafe. The officer was also sending text messages while he was driving.  Texting while driving also contributed to the crash.

This unfortunate story happens much too often. Drunken driving causes many deaths and serious injuries each year. Every 15 minutes, someone dies from a drunken driving related crash. Crashes involving a drunken driver are usually quite serious and often fatal. Injuries often require extended hospital stays and extensive physical therapy. A serious accident can also mean time away from work.

Texting while driving is also another serious cause of car accidents. Distracted driving is a serious issue in the United States. Cell phone use while driving dramatically increases your chance of accidents. When you text while driving, your eyes are on your phone instead of the road. You are also thinking about what to text, and you have one hand on your phone. If a car tries to merge into your lane, you may not be able to respond in time.

There are many possible causes of car accidents. Some car accidents are simply accidents and completely avoidable. However, many car accidents are caused by impaired drivers and distracted drivers. Don’t drink and drive or drive distracted. Do not let your friends and family drive impaired or distracted. If you are not confident about your driving abilities, simply pull over. It is better to be safe than dead.

If you are ever in a car accident, contact a Costa Mesa car accident lawyer.