ILLINOIS: State Police: Trooper ‘did not contribute’ to fatal cycle crash

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http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/7388575-418/state-police-trooper-did-not-contribute-to-fatal-motorcycle-crash.htmlState Police: Trooper ‘did not contribute’ to fatal cycle crash

By Jenette Sturges jsturges@stmedianetwork.com 
Illinois State Police have released these still shots from the in-car video camera that show Nick Linton and his fellow motorcyclists moments prior to the crash that killed Linton. According to state police, the photos are evidence that the officer was behind the motorcyclists at the time of the crash and was not a contributing factor to the accident or Linton’s death.Aug. 28, 2011. | Illinois State Police photos Article Extras
View Gallery Related Stories Aurora motorcyclist dies on I-88; friends blame state trooper Updated: September 1, 2011 9:07AM
Illinois State Police Wednesday issued a statement claiming no responsibility for the crash that killed an Aurora man last Friday night on Interstate 88.
Nicholas Linton, 29, of Aurora was killed in a crash while riding his motorcycle east on I-88 near the Winfield Road exit around 9:15 p.m. Friday.
According to the police report filed immediately after the incident, two motorcycles were involved in a crash.
“One swerved into another, causing the second to take evasive action,” said an officer reading from the report.
But other motorcyclists traveling alongside Linton said it happened differently — that a state trooper’s vehicle pulled in front of the two bikes, cutting them off. One biker was able to swerve out of harm’s way. Linton was not.
Illinois State Police issued a two-paragraph press release Wednesday stating “the officer’s enforcement action was not a contributing factor” to the crash and Linton’s death.
“The officer followed Department policy in taking enforcement action while observing three motorcycles traveling at a high rate of speed in front of the officer’s vehicle,” according to the statement.
“Basically the investigation remains an active investigation,” said Monique Bond, public information officer for the Illinois State Police.
“What I can say at this point is based on the preliminary investigation reports and the in-car camera video that we’ve been able to review, the officer’s enforcement actions did not contribute to the crash and department policy was followed.”
State Police also released still shots from the squad car’s in-car video camera just prior to the crash that show the motorcyclists in front of the squad car. According to State Police, the photos are evidence the officer was not a contributing factor to the crash or Linton’s death. The video also shows the recorded speed of the officer’s vehicle, which tops 92 mph in one clip.
“Based on the video, the motorcycles were in front of the officer’s vehicle, and it also captures one of the motorcycles’ brake lights in front of the officer’s vehicle,” said Bond.
Linton’s friends and fellow riders from the RPM Riders United Motorcycle Club placed a cross at the site of the crash Wednesday.
http://www.policeone.com/vehicle-incidents/articles/4303011-Police-Ill-trooper-did-not-cause-fatal-crash/
Police: Ill. trooper did not cause fatal crash Accounts of a fatal motorcycle crash in Chicago differ; police statement says officer acted appropriately


 By PoliceOne Staff
CHICAGO — Illinois State Police issued a statement disputing their role in a fatal motorcycle crash last Friday.
Nicholas Linton, 29, was killed in a crash involving two motorcycles, though eyewitness accounts of the accident vary, according to the Beacon-News. Police filed a report stating that one bike swerved into another to cause the accident, but other motorcyclists at the scene claimed that a police cruiser pulled in front of the two bikes, cutting them off.
Police say dash cam footage is evidence that the officer was not a contributing factor, and that still shots captured just prior to the crash show the motorcyclists clearly in front of the squad car.
“The officer’s enforcement action was not a contributing factor” to the crash and Linton’s death, the Illinois State Police press release stated.
The officer followed department policy for handling motorcycles traveling at high-speed, according to the release. Based on speeds recorded by dash cam, the motorcycles were traveling at more than 92 mph.
“[Dash cam] also captures one of the motorcycles’ brake lights in front of the officer’s vehicle,” public information officer Monique Bond said.