CPD issues correction after saying pedestrian failed to yield to crosswalk signal

Columbia police have now issued a correction after an officer hit a pedestrian with his vehicle on a crosswalk Wednesday night.

On Friday, police said further investigation revealed the pedestrian, Laura Harrison, had entered the crosswalk legally.

Police originally said Harrison failed to yield to the crosswalk signal. However, ABC 17 News spoke to Harrison Thursday who said it was the officer who failed to yield.

Harrison suffered minor injuries to her elbow in the incident onParis Road/ Route B and East Brown Station Road.

On Thursday,the Columbia Police Department issued a news release on the incident. Police now say the investigation was still ongoing when they sent the original release and say that information was preliminary.

Police sayHarrison e-mailed the CPD Public Relations Unit Thursday afternoon saying the information provided in the original news release was inaccurate.

Police say Harrison told them she had not failed to yield to the crosswalk. Police say at this point, CPD command staff was notified and the investigation was taken over by a supervising Lieutenant.

Police say further investigation and review of dash cam video from Officer NicholasWulff’s patrol car revealed more about the incident. It apparently shows Wulff entered the intersection during a left turn yield on green light signal.

Police say at the same time, the crosswalk light was lit to a solid white pedestrian figure which indicates “walk.” Police say, approximately four seconds later the crosswalk turned to a flashing red hand.

Police say acrash reconstructionist will follow up on the crash.