A Columbus police officer is facing a 30-day suspension without pay tonight before the City Council after her squad car collided with another vehicle, injuring her and three elderly women.
The city”s accident review board, which includes Mayor Robert Smith and Police Chief Joseph St. John, voted in executive session Monday to recommend officer Rebecca Lomax”s suspension, her second this year.
Lomax, who has been an officer since early 2010, was southbound on Highway 45 North trying to pull over a vehicle with her emergency lights on when she pulled into the busy intersection at Bluecutt Road. Her squad car smashed into the front right-hand fender of a westbound car driven by 76-year-old Mary Fuller.
Fuller, her two 79- and 84-year-old passengers, and Lomax were all taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle. All were wearing their seat belts.
The family of Fuller said she and the other women were still in and out of the hospital undergoing treatment as a result of the wreck.
If the City Council upholds the accident review board”s decision, Lomax has the option to appeal her suspension before the Civil Service Commission.
According to board members, the board decided to bypass the city”s disciplinary policy for wrecks to give Lomax a harsher punishment because of the injuries involved.
James Fuller, Mary Fuller”s husband, thanked the board for their decision after the wreck and questioned what police academy Lomax attended.
“She must have skipped 101 brakes,” he said.
Lomax was also suspended for a day earlier this year after she slid across an icy bridge and into a pickup truck that had wrecked moments before.
At the accident review board Monday, board members also issued a reprimand to Duane Hughes of Columbus Fire and Rescue for wrecking a golf cart, causing more than $288 in damages.
Two other wrecks involving officers Ron Richardson and James Hanson were also scheduled for review but their cases were postponed.
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