TAMPA, Fla.  — The widow of a Tampa Police officer who died final 12 months after he veered into the trail of a wrong-way driver is suing the Florida Department of Transportation for failing to keep up early detection methods designed to stop wrong-way drivers from getting onto the interstate.
Officer Jesse Madsen, 45, was off-duty when he died early on the morning of March 9, 2021, on I-275.
Former Police Chief Brian Dugan mentioned on the time that Madsen purposely entered the wrong-way driver’s path in an effort to guard others. The impression killed Madsen and the opposite driver, who was recognized as 25-year-old Joshua Daniel Montague of Golden, Colorado.
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Now Danyelle Madsen is suing FDOT and Transcore. The lawsuit alleges that the failure to keep up an early detection system designed to stop wrong-way drivers from accessing the interstate contributed to Officer Madsen’s loss of life.
Tampa Police Benevolent
Transcore is underneath contract with FDOT and is chargeable for sustaining Florida’s Intelligent Transportation Systems, which embody the Wrong Way Detection System at Busch Boulevard, in response to a press launch.
The Yerrid Law Firm, which is representing Danyelle Madsen and her three youngsters, is ready to debate the lawsuit throughout a 2 p.m. press convention on Tuesday. Madsen is anticipated to attend.
“Sadly, a hero’s pointless and tragic loss of life occurred as a result of of a system failure that ought to have by no means occurred. We intend to pursue justice for the sake of the household and, simply as importantly, to make each effort to make sure a tragedy like this doesn’t occur to a different household,” Steve Yerrid mentioned.
According to the regulation agency, between January 2020 and February 2021 there have been 5 incidents at Busch Boulevard that concerned wrong-way drivers getting into I-275. The agency mentioned in these situations, the early detection system labored, warned the drivers they had been going the mistaken method and allowed them to appropriate their course.
The system makes use of radar to detect automobiles which might be touring the mistaken method and is meant to right away activate flashing lights alongside the exit ramp, notify the Florida Highway Patrol and activate warning indicators alongside the interstate to warn different motorists of the hazard, a press launch mentioned.
The regulation agency alleges it has cause to consider the wrong-way detection system at Busch Boulevard skilled quite a few points in the times main as much as the lethal crash which brought about the system to repeatedly malfunction.