A two vehicle accident Wednesday evening at the intersection of Austin Avenue and Indian Creek sent one Brownwood Police officer to the hospital with minor injuries.
Officer Dustin Bode was transported to Brownwood Regional Medical Center where he was observed and later released. Doctors determined he had sustained a concussion.
Assistant Chief James Fuller of the Brownwood Police Department said that a 15-year-old unlicensed driver in a pickup ran a stop light at the intersection, collided with the police car on the driver’s side, and ran both vehicles partially off of the road.
“Officer Bode was performing his duties very carefully approaching the intersection,“ stated Assistant Chief Fuller. Fuller said that the police in-car video showed the light to have been green for Officer Bode’s lane of traffic.
The teen was cited for driving without a license and released to his parents.
“Parents need to start parenting,” Fuller said. “Make sure that these drivers are licensed drivers.”
Fuller said that law enforcement officers hold parents responsible for allowing their children to drive without a license.
“If your kid doesn’t have a driver’s license, don’t let them drive,“ said Fuller. “Allowing your kid to drive will ultimately get you a ticket. Regardless of this accident, we do write these tickets and this is just an example of how important it is.”
