A Langley police officer suffered minor injuries in a collision with a suspected drunk driver last week.
Officer Lucas Adkins was taken to the hospital after a three-car collision that was caused by a reportedly impaired driver at 5:35 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14 on Highway 525 near Ken’s Corner.
Adkins was stopped at a four-way stoplight in his Chevrolet Impala patrol car when he was rear-ended by Ernest Arik’s Subaru Forrester, which was southbound. The impact pushed Adkins’ vehicle forward and into Pia Klaudercarruth’s Honda Fit.
Adkins was taken to Whidbey General Hospital with minor injuries and released the same night. Klaudercarruth, 55, experienced shock and was treated on scene.
Arik, 66, was traveling at an estimated 50 miles per hour at the time of impact, according to Washington State Patrol spokesman Mark Francis.
Arik was arrested at the scene by WSP on suspicion of driving under the influence. Arik had a blood alcohol content of .173, according to Langley Police Chief Dave Marks.
Marks said Adkins will return to work on Wednesday.
“I was just kind of dazed,” Adkins said Monday. “I didn’t know what had happened. Once I looked, I realized I had been rear-ended.”
Adkins’ vehicle, the oldest squad car in service, was badly damaged. The mangled trunk contained a plethora of gear, including medical equipment, portable breath analyzer tests, crime scene investigation kits, and more.
Marks said he was still assessing what equipment could be salvaged from the trunk Monday. All the equipment in the front of the car was removed so it could be used in other patrol cars.
Langley police were down two patrol cars until Monday when Marks was able to get the newest patrol car into service.
It is unclear whether insurance will cover the cost of repairing or replacing the vehicle. Langley mayor Fred McCarthy estimated a replacement vehicle could cost up to $40,000.
“The fact that we had the new one is a help to us,” McCarthy said. “We were fine before. We will use it while we are waiting for the other replacement vehicle.”
“I imagine we will have it replaced in a month or two.”
Adkins received support from community members when the police department announced the crash on social media. He’s also received phone calls, Facebook posts and texts from friends and family.
“I really appreciate that,” Adkins said. “It means a lot.”
The roads were slippery at the time of the accident as well as busy, said South Whidbey Fire/EMS Deputy Chief Mike Cotton.
“It’s the weekend and it seems like a lot more cars moving around,” Cotton said. “It doesn’t help when someone under the influence gets behind the wheel.”
