Red Light Camera News RLC FAILS TO PREVENT DANGEROUS DRIVER FROM RUNNING LIGHTS!
RLC FAILS TO PREVENT DANGEROUS DRIVER FROM RUNNING LIGHTS!
(Thanks to Eric out of TN for sharing this with us).
Quote: When Martinez was interviewed about the incident Saturday, he “stated the only thing he really remembers in the city of Gallatin was the red light cameras flashing as he ran them,” the Gallatin police report said.
Nashville firefighter leads police on high-speed chase
Chase went through Gallatin square
11:37 AM, Nov. 29, 2011
A A Written by
Sarah Kingsbury | Gallatin News Examiner
An off-duty Nashville firefighter from Mt. Juliet led police on a high-speed chase from Lebanon to Hendersonville Friday night, later telling officers that he didn’t stop because he was afraid of getting a DUI.
The pursuit was called off in Hendersonville, but the suspect was arrested by Metro Nashville police just hours later.
Mario J. Martinez, 25, of 2033 Hiddencove Road in Mt. Juliet, has been charged in Sumner County with 23 counts of reckless endangerment, one count of leaving the scene of an accident, and one count of evading arrest. He also faces two misdemeanor charges in Wilson County, and was cited for 21 other traffic offenses in Gallatin, according to police records.
Martinez later told police he had left a bar in Nashville and ended up in Lebanon.
The chase started on East Gate Boulevard in Lebanon around 11 p.m. Nov. 25, when an officer saw Martinez driving recklessly and attempted to pull him over. When Martinez continued driving, police put down spike strips at two locations to try to stop the car, but Martinez reportedly veered around both of them, Lebanon police Chief Scott Bowen said.
Martinez then drove north on Highway 109 toward Gallatin, reaching a speed of 100 miles per hour and avoiding another spike strip.
With Gallatin and Lebanon officers and Wilson County Sheriff’s Office deputies in pursuit of the 2004 Dodge Ram, Martinez headed down South Water Avenue, swerving to the right shoulder to avoid striking a vehicle, according to the arrest affidavit.
Several vehicles struck by driver
Martinez sped through the downtown square, nearly striking several vehicles, and continued onto North Water Avenue. He turned left on Broadway into oncoming traffic, running some vehicles off the road.
He continued veering into opposite lanes of traffic, striking a car at the intersection of Nashville Pike and Maple Street in Gallatin. No injuries were reported from the crash, the affidavit said.
Martinez sped toward Hendersonville, driving between 80 and 110 mph, and running several traffic lights. Hendersonville police notified Lebanon that they were not set up to continue the pursuit, so officers were told to discontinue the chase.
Martinez got away -- but was arrested for DUI around 4 a.m. Saturday in Nashville. He was released from a Davidson County jail five hours later. Metro police likely did not know about the high-speed pursuit when they arrested Martinez, Bowen said.
On Saturday, Nov. 26, police in Montgomery County contacted Martinez’s parents in Clarksville, and were able to reach Martinez as a result.
When reached by Lebanon police, Martinez agreed to come to that department to talk to officers about the incident. He admitted that he had been “really drunk” and “thought he was close to his old house” off Highway 109.
When Martinez was interviewed about the incident Saturday, he “stated the only thing he really remembers in the city of Gallatin was the red light cameras flashing as he ran them,” the Gallatin police report said.
Martinez was placed under arrest Saturday night and transported to the Wilson County Jail. He was released Sunday into the custody of Gallatin Police Department officers and booked into the Sumner County Jail. He remained in jail Monday with a composite bond of $125,000.
Nashville Fire Department Assistant Chief Charles Shannon said Monday that the department had not been officially notified of the charges and that Martinez remained an active employee.
“Once we are notified officially, then we will take appropriate action based off of that, and certainly an investigation would be appropriate in this manner, and then whatever is deemed necessary from a disciplinary standpoint,” he said.
Martinez is scheduled to appear in front of Sumner County General Sessions Judge Jim Hunter for the most serious charges on Jan. 4, 2012 at 9 a.m.
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