COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) trooper who was caught on his own dash camera slamming into the back of a big rig in December received only a “minor misdemeanor traffic citation,” according to the OSHP.
According to an OSHP report, trooper Jarid Fitzpatrick, 25, was following the tractor-trailer too closely in the early morning hours of Dec. 15 along Interstate 70 in Columbus.
OSHP officials said in a statement that Fitzpatrick told them he did not have any recollection of the incident or what led to crash.
The truck driver involved, 58-year-old Thomas Ervin, of Heath, Ohio, was uninjured.
Fitzpatrick, who was not on call at the time of the accident, was hospitalized with a broken wrist and concussion.
Fitzpatrick called for assistance on his radio following the crash, which sandwiched the front half of his cruiser underneath the semi-trailer.
Below is dash camera footage of the accident.
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They don’t show what his speed was leading up to the crash. But I would bet a dollar to a donut that it was excessive. He was obviously tired when he crossed over 6the breakdown line. I’m afraid of that the Ohio State Patrol is clearly playing a game of the law fits us differently than you. I’m glad the officer will recover but I’m afraid that the department has run smack dab into the equal protection clause of the law.