Pedestrian hit by CPD vehicle has a different side of the story
UPDATE: MODOT finds flaw in crosswalk signal going both North and Southbound on Route B and Brown Station Road.
They are currently working on trying to fix the signal, making it more clear to pedestrians when it is time to walk.
ORIGINAL STORY:A pedestrian hit by a CPD vehicle on Wednesday night is speaking to ABC 17 News about her side of the story.
Laura Harrison was struck by a CPD vehicle on Wednesday night while crossing Brown Station Road near Route B.
According to the Columbia Police Department the pedestrian failed to yield to the crosswalk light on Paris Road/Route B on the south side of the intersection. The pedestrian then struck the driver’s side of the vehicle.
Harrison is telling ABC 17 News a different side of the story.
Laura Harrison said that around 8 p.m. Wednesday, she pressed the cross walking button to cross the street at Brown Station Road. Once the walking icon light turned, she started to walk; seconds later, a countdown started, but then the flashing hand appeared seconds after that.
She said she knew she had the right of way because the light to turn left was a solid green, not a green arrow which would give the car a right of way.
Harrison said that by the time she got about halfway through the crosswalk, the CPD vehicle struck her.
“I just remember rolling on the ground,”she said.
Moments later Officer Wulff stopped the car.
“One of the first things he asked after he made sure I was ok was about the crosswalk sign. He thought maybe I didn’t yield like I was jaywalking, which I wasn’t,” Harrison said, “and then he said he just didn’t see me, which I mean it’s at night.”
Harrison said she didn’t ask for medical attention because she walked away with minor scratches and bruising. She told ABC 17 News she will not pursue legal action against the department or Officer.
“I just want an apology, I have such high respect for law enforcement, especially in this day and age. I was dispatcher for a little bit in Kansas, so I would just like an apology honestly, or a retraction of the statement,” she said.
ABC 17 News has reached out to Columbia Police Department for comment and for dash cam video, we will keep you updated.
