Update #3, 02/07/2017: Jose Coreas-Mejia (age 16, Atlanta) died yesterday around 11:30am. Former Officer Scott York (age 24) was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail at 9:44am this morning.  He was charged with Vehicular Homicide, Reckless Driving, and Too Fast for Conditions.  (Please contact the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office for booking information and photo.)

Update #2, 01/31/2017: Officer Scott York was terminated from the Gwinnett County Police Department earlier today citing policy violations.

The GCPD General Directives Manual Section 440.02 states that, “The safety of the public will be the primary consideration in a vehicular response to any call for assistance or incident.” 

The Gwinnett County Police Department has three designation codes for responding to calls for service.  “Personal Injury Traffic Accidents” fall into a Code 2 response.  During a Code 2 response, “Intermittent use of emergency lights and siren is authorized to proceed through intersections and congested areas… At no time shall the posted speed limit be exceeded.”  Based on the evidence of the yaw marks on the pavement at the scene and the black box data from the patrol car, Officer York’s speed was approximately 97 mph just prior to the collision.  The posted speed limit for Singleton Road (at the accident location) is 40 mph.

During all mandated training in the police academy, each recruit receives a block of instruction on the proper code response to calls for service.  Officer York acted outside the policies of the Gwinnett County Police Department. 

The criminal investigation is still active, and charges are likely within the upcoming week.

There is no further update on Jose’s condition. 

To see GDM Section 440.00, please click on the following Dropbox link:  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zpvswg9wfuaijbm/AAAHDfrD_sQFwlsnN0sJMBsCa?dl=0

Update #1, 01/30/2017: Jose Coreas-Mejia (age 16, Atlanta) is still in serious condition at the hospital. 

Joel Melendez-Coreas (age 18, Norcross) has been discharged from the hospital after being treated for his injuries.  Jose and Joel are cousins.

Based on the preliminary report, Officer Scott York (#1812) was responding to a pedestrian accident on Dawson Boulevard and Chase Lane.  He was traveling westbound on Singleton Road in the left lane. (Singleton Road has two lanes of travel for both directions separated by a center turn lane.)  His blue lights and siren were activated.  The officer told the investigators that he traveled into the center turn lane in an attempt to pass another vehicle.  The vehicle that he was passing began to merge into the center turn lane at the same time the officer was attempting to pass him. 

The officer maneuvered his vehicle onto the opposite side of the roadway to avoid a collision.  The officer lost control of his vehicle and “entered into a critical speed yaw.”  He crossed over the center turn lane and both westbound travel lanes before traveling up the right curb. 

The patrol car struck Jose and Joel in front of 5745 Singleton Road.  The patrol car continued toward 5735 Singleton Road and struck two parked vehicles (silver Honda Accord and black Honda Accord) in the driveway.  The black Honda Accord was pushed into the residence damaging the exterior wall. 

Officer York received minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital.  He is currently on paid, administrative leave at this stage in the investigation.   

Officer York was hired on September 14, 2015.  He graduated from the 94^th GCPD Police Academy on April 21, 2016. 

The Gwinnett County Police Department is taking this case very seriously.  The Accident Investigation Unit (AIU) officers and supervisors will handle this investigation in the same manner that they handle all other AIU call-outs.  The investigators will look at whether any GA State Laws or department policies were violated. 

We offer our full support to the Coreas and Melendez families as they cope with Jose’s extensive injuries.  We will update the details of this case as they evolve. 

Link to report and photo: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zpvswg9wfuaijbm/AAAHDfrD_sQFwlsnN0sJMBsCa?dl=0

Original, 01/29/2017: (Norcross, Georgia)  The Gwinnett County Police Department Accident Investigation Unit is currently at the scene of an officer-involved pedestrian accident.  The officer was traveling westbound on Singleton Road near Stonewood Drive en route to a different pedestrian accident in the area.  As he was traveling on Singleton Road, he left the roadway, traveled upon the right curb, and struck two walkers on the sidewalk.  The incident occurred shortly before 9pm.

One of the pedestrians was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville with serious, life-threatening injuries.  The other pedestrian’s injuries were not life-threatening. 

How and why he left the roadway is under investigation. 

The Accident Investigation Unit is very skilled at determining many factors in serious injury and fatality accidents.  The investigators will inspect the patrol car and interview the officer and any witnesses to this incident. 

Our hearts go out to the family of the victims.  As officers, we routinely investigate incidents involving others.  It’s never easy investigating an incident involving one of our own. 

Additional details will be available tomorrow.  The names and ages of the two pedestrians are being withheld until notification can be made.