Three crashes involving Olyphant police cruisers over the past six weeks - two this week alone - should not cost the borough more than $1,500.
On Tuesday, Patrolman Paul Nardozzi parked a borough Crown Victoria along the 300 block of Lackawanna Avenue to investigate an illegally parked car. When he opened his door, it caught on a trailer towed by Stanley Zilinski, 59, 147 6th St., Blakely. The door was bent completely forward, according to a crash report filed by Blakely police.
Patrolman Nardozzi left the scene before police arrived but told Blakely Chief Guy Salerno that he did not see the trailer. Patrolman Nardozzi was sent to Mid-Valley Hospital after the door hit him, but said he was only bruised.
The borough replaced the door and put the vehicle back in service, Borough Manager C.J. Mustacchio said. He added that the repair might not require an insurance claim.
On Monday, Michael Piercy, 820 Spruce St., Olyphant, backed the truck he was driving into a police vehicle driven by Olyphant Officer James Foley.
Mr. Piercy had missed a turn on the 100 block of Constitution Avenue in Jessup at 10:14 a.m. Both vehicles had minor damage but were driven from the scene. Jessup Police Chief Joseph Walsh said the incident is under investigation, but no citation has been filed.
Neither driver was injured. That police vehicle has not returned to service, Mr. Mustacchio said.
The borough's insurance deductible is $500, so Mr. Mustacchio said both incidents should not exceed $1,000. The council will discuss the incidents with the mayor, he added.
On April 24, Patrolman Gary Sholtes was pulling onto the street from Rock Creek Plaza around 9:45 p.m. when his contact lens fell out. As he reached for the lens, he hit a lamp post. The cruiser sustained about $7,500 worth of damage, but the borough only had to pay the $500 insurance deductible. That vehicle has also returned to service.
At the May council meeting, Councilwoman Jo Ann Jason expressed her displeasure about the April crash.
When asked about the June crashes, she said, "I'm still not happy, but apparently accidents happen."
Councilman Robert Hooper said both crashes were just bad luck, noting that Monday's crash was likely because the driver of the truck could not see the cruiser in his mirrors.
"That's why they call them accidents," he said.
Contact the writer: rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter