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  • Drunken Driver Hits Police Car, Officer Injured Save Email Print
    Two children in minivan not hurt
    Posted: 8:29 PM May 16, 2008
    Last Updated: 10:07 PM May 17, 2008
    Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

    A | A | A

    Police say an Omaha man who slammed into a parked cruiser with an officer inside, was drunk and driving with two children in his minivan Friday night.

    Thirty-nine-year-old David Rutherford was not hurt, nor were the children. The officer, Tom Hickey, was stopped near 144th and Q streets blocking traffic due to an earlier accident when the cruiser was struck on the driver's side just after 9:30 p.m. He was treated for cuts and bruises at Methodist Hospital and released.

    Rutherford was arrested for refusal of a preliminary breath test, refusal of BAC test, DUI and two counts of child neglect. He was transported to Douglas County Corrections and booked into jail.

    The police cruiser Rutherford hit was blocking eastbound traffic on Q Street from another accident involving alcohol at Q and Millard Avenue.

    Police say an Acura with four teenagers who'd been drinking was heading north on Millard Avenue when the driver ran a red light and hit a Lumina going east on Q Street around 8:30 p.m. The Lumina then hit a third vehicle.

    Two teens in the back seat of the Acura ran from the scene before police arrived. The driver of the Acura was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center in critical condition. He was arrested for willful reckless driving and MIP. Another passenger was taken to Lakeside Hospital with minor injuries.

    Police are looking for the two who fled. Witnesses say one of them was thrown from the vehicle.

    The driver and passenger of the Lumina were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center for treatment of injuries not considered life threatening.

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    Posted by: Marshall on May 21, 2008 at 08:24 AM
    Having been hit by a drunk driver before, I have a great dislike of drunk drivers. If they have so little respect for the lives of the others on the road (and his children in this case) they (drunk drivers) deserve and need to go to jail. It is attempted murder. End of story.

    Posted by: Bob on May 20, 2008 at 06:56 AM
    To Cathy: He is NOT a good dad, he is NOT a sweet guy and he DID put his children in DANGER the minute he put them in the car and got behind the wheel while he was DRUNK!! I actually drove by there right after it happened. Wow is all I can say. People like that should be locked up for a very very long time and Child Protective Services should step in and take care of the children that he has no respect for. A man like this should be ashamed of himself and should do some serious hard time for his actions.

    Posted by: Bill on May 19, 2008 at 02:33 PM
    To Cathy: yeah people make mistakes but this one is unacceptable. You say he's a good man? I would hate to see him when he's bad. And Jake, I'm with ya brother. They need to BEAT these criminals. It's almost like giving them a "time out". It does nothing to you. I say WHIP'EM, BEAT'EM, whatever they have to do for these ding dongs to learn what's right and what's wrong.

    Posted by: to Cathy on May 19, 2008 at 12:36 PM
    Cathy, you stated that Dave "is a very good dad and a sweet guy and would never hurt a child in a million years". Then why on God's green earth is he driving drunk with them in the vehicle??

    Posted by: The Original Cop on May 19, 2008 at 09:49 AM
    Ah just when I thought we were making progress. If it's not obvious to everyone, the post at 9:46 is not mine. I do expect people to listen to me while I'm working because I'm the boss. I couldn't care less if anyone chooses to read my comments on here or not, but I'll continue to make them.

    Posted by: The Original Cop on May 18, 2008 at 09:46 PM
    Sorry Mini O.C.. Someone on here is portraying themself as me and I am sick of it. Yes, our cruisers do get hit on the street when we are involved in other matters. It is a sad fact. I stand more behind my officers than other original cops on here. I am a cop and I know things. I not only expect people to listen to me while I am working, but also when I am making comments on a news site. I am Original Cop.

    Posted by: J on May 18, 2008 at 06:23 PM
    @Brandy in Omaha: I must be missing something. Who chose for the teens to drink while underage? If they are supposedly college material, then they are smart enough to know it's illegal to drink under the age of 21 and there might be consequences if caught doing so. QED, they are not college material after all.

    Posted by: A Mom on May 18, 2008 at 02:38 PM
    Mr. Rutherford, why did you have children in your car after drinking? Not very smart, they could of been killed. Where was the mom, and why would she allow you do drive with them after drinking? Let me guess working while you drink it away. I hope you do serious time, and I pray the children don't have to go through somthing this scary again. Sounds like CPS needs to talk to you.

    Posted by: brandi on May 18, 2008 at 01:55 PM
    their" college plans" are to probably drink themselves STUPID!!!!!!!!!

    Posted by: B on May 18, 2008 at 10:54 AM
    Mike, don't think the intersection had anything to do with these accidents. If you're drunk and speeding, it doesn't matter how safe the intersection is. The juvenille driver in the first accident should spend a few years in jail, and the dad in the second accident should be in the cell right next to him. Nice to see some responsible parenting going on. God what has our society come to? Then again, when there are no consequences for your actions, people will continue to do what they want. I hope our politicians are seeing this and make tougher laws. Judges, don't let these two idiots off easy. Max punishment for both.

    Posted by: Brandy on May 18, 2008 at 10:50 AM
    I do believe that the teens should be punished but messing up their college plans/intentions will only add to the scum on our streets. This is how the circle of life of crime starts. Once a young person is charged and serves the time, when they get out, there are not resources available to back into the job industry etc.

    Posted by: The Original Cop on May 18, 2008 at 10:38 AM
    Well "Mini OC" at least you came up with your own name. The no towing for JUST no insurance or JUST no registration was under the old regime so perhaps that will go back to some common sense policy soon. Those can be used a factors and if a car is unregistered, no insurance, and the drive is suspended or no license I would stand behind my officers every time for towing that car.

    Posted by: Cathy on May 18, 2008 at 09:47 AM
    We know Dave and his family and have known them for a long time. Before everyone judges him and says he doesn't deserve those kids or starts throwing around comments about the death penalty, they need to step back and realize that yes everyday people do make mistakes. I am sure Dave is devasted by his actions, but he does not deserve to go to jail forever. He is a very good dad and a sweet guy and would never hurt a child in a million years. It is easy to judge people when you don't know them and do not understand all of the circumstances. Everyone makes mistakes and I want him and his family to know that we are thinking of them and we are here for him. We still love ya Dave. Whatever happens.

    Posted by: Luke on May 18, 2008 at 09:41 AM
    Ok..now while I am sure he was drunk, otherwise he would not have refused the tests,we don't REALLY know what his BAC was. The fact is would we still be just as outraged if it was due to cold medicine? Both are technically illegal. I would know as I received a ticket for DUI because the medicine i was on and the fact it imapired my driving. Not alcohol,but appears on my driving record as the same DUI

    Posted by: Dave on May 17, 2008 at 11:29 PM
    For you teens that say why do the cops have worry so much about the underage parties...this is why. They should also be partly responsible for the second accident in my opinion

    Posted by: Alyson on May 17, 2008 at 10:24 PM
    I witnessed the first accident. I was stopped at the lights first to go.. if iw ouldve i wouldve been hit but i saw the kid flying down the street.

    Posted by: Anonymous on May 17, 2008 at 10:12 PM
    Hey Jeff the two that ran were in the back seat. So, does it really matter if they have insurance.

    Posted by: cheri on May 17, 2008 at 10:02 PM
    I know Dave I can't believe he would do that I am disappointed in him. He was a good dad and I looked up to him I guess I won't anymore

    Posted by: Just Me on May 17, 2008 at 09:59 PM
    Excuse me if your going to drink and be stupid don't get small children n your vechile and maybe kill them as well he should be behind bars for a long time..... I say throw the book at him. He doesn't deserve those children

    Posted by: Bill on May 17, 2008 at 09:17 PM
    It is one thing to get drunk and get behind the wheel and screw up your own life but did you have to put the kids in the car and endanger their lives as well. You are scum for not giving a hoot about their well being in the slightest. Sad thing is this was probably not the first time you have done this....just the first time you rammed into a cop car.

    Posted by: Jake on May 17, 2008 at 09:09 PM
    Hopefully the two COWARDS who ran from the acura, leaving their critically injured buddy behind, are caught and severaly beaten! Thats right BEATEN! Wake up citizens, until you get tough on crime, any crime, this will continue to happen. Do your homaework and vote only for judges and legislators who are tough on crime. Thanks goes out again to OPD! Always there (this time, "literaly").

    Posted by: Anonymous on May 17, 2008 at 07:02 PM
    What is up with all this drining and driving?? Two drunks going through that intersection around the same time that we know of. My parents were killed by a drunk driver and I'm getting sick of this! According to MADD, the majority of people willing to drive drunk are alcoholics but aren't required to attend AA as part of their sentence.

    Posted by: amanda on May 17, 2008 at 06:04 PM
    big surprise he was drunk! geez these drunk people need harsher punishments maybe then the rest will detur from this behavior. how hard is it to wait till ur sober, call a ride, or call a cab. or heres an idea DONT DRINK. im so tired of drunk driving accidents.

    Posted by: Lauren on May 17, 2008 at 05:44 PM
    I just feel sorry cuz I know one of the girls that was involed with it.

    Posted by: Mini Original Cop on May 17, 2008 at 05:06 PM
    Actually Jeff OPD is not allowed to tow a vehicle for No Proof of Insurance or Expired Registration off a traffic stop or even an accident. Apparently even if they tell you that they don't have insurance they have ten days to show up to the City Prosecutors Office and show an insurance card showing that insurance was in force on the date of the stop. Same thing with no registration, the offender has ten days to register his or her vehicle from the date of the stop an have the citation dismissed. As it is having no insurance is a CRIMINAL offense, not an infraction as you can actually serve jail time. So when you are stopped and have no insurance, you actually get arrested. Officer's have been suspended for towing a vehicle to the impound that was involved in a pursuit, the driver was arrested and booked into jail. Go figure. It's not the police officer on the street, it's the "upper command" that has decreed this is the way for it to be.

    Posted by: Role Model on May 17, 2008 at 03:11 PM
    Drunk driver with two kids in the car? Slams into the side of a police cruiser! Now there's a great role model for bad parents everywhere.

    Posted by: disgusted on May 17, 2008 at 02:33 PM
    If you finance a car you must carry insurance but if you pay cash its kind of up to the owner to keep insurance. Maybe the insurance needs to be attached to the drivers license. Have the insurance company contact the DMV if the licensee drops their policy. Red light cameras would at least have snapped a picture of the ones who ran off. Unfortunately you can't get all the trash off the streets. They were probably drunk and or illegal or something like that. Seems like there are way to many that are just running from an accident without regard for the injuries they have caused let alone the damage.

    Posted by: Timmeh on May 17, 2008 at 11:01 AM
    Someone in Omaha ran a red light?! What a shocker.

    Posted by: Anonymous on May 17, 2008 at 10:36 AM
    That is the most dangerous intersection in town. You can not see cars traveling west on "Q" when turning west off Millard Ave onto "Q". It is a horrible angle. I have seen several accidents due to that intersections geometry. Running red lights makes everything even worse.

    Posted by: justice on May 17, 2008 at 09:47 AM
    This is why I support the death penalty

    Posted by: Officer on May 17, 2008 at 09:34 AM
    We should be able to TOW all vehicles upon any traffic stop that are uninsured!!!

    Posted by: John on May 17, 2008 at 09:16 AM
    Actually Jeff they do. If you are in an accident and have no insurance(alot of cops will call the ins companies to see if the policy is active) they will tow the vehicle,if you leave it there and run they tow it to the impound lot as well. Then if you go to the impound they arrest you if you run from the scene. If you stay and they impound it,you must have insurance before they release it too you.

    Posted by: Anon on May 17, 2008 at 08:54 AM
    While driving to work yesteday three different cars ran red lights at three different intersections - two were talking on their cell phones.

    Posted by: Nicole on May 17, 2008 at 07:15 AM
    Hey Jeff, in texas, it's an automatic 3 days in jail for driving without insurance, and your car get impounded. At least that's how I remember it in 97. Maybe a law like this will detour people. Then again, maybe all it will do is cause overcrowding. who knows. PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE!!!!

    Posted by: Stephanie on May 17, 2008 at 07:09 AM
    This is why we need to pass a law to allow red light cameras and fine the heck out of these jerks! I hope all the victims have a fast recovery.

    Posted by: Mike on May 17, 2008 at 03:37 AM
    If you watch the show TRUTV (on most cable networks), you'll find people are the same no matter where you go. The only changes are the faces and places. Your personal life change is only going to change your own personal lifestyle. Maybe the quickist way to change vehicle accident fatalities is to put away your keys and and give up the freedom, right and everything else that goes along with the driving? Wouldn't that be a horrible lifestyle?

    Posted by: Oscar on May 17, 2008 at 12:52 AM
    Thats why whenever the light turns green I wait and look both sides before going.

    Posted by: paul on May 16, 2008 at 11:10 PM
    the people that ran the red and then ran way?...I think thats a felony...hope they catch them...

    Posted by: Jeff on May 16, 2008 at 10:39 PM
    Nice Responsible citizens. Run a red light cause a major accident and then flee the scene. When they are caught they probably won't have insurance. Why can't our useless uni-cameral pass a law that confiscates any vehicle that is stopped and is not insured at the time of the infraction. Seem to me that would solve this problem quite quickly.

    Posted by: Wow on May 16, 2008 at 09:20 PM
    People are idiots. I'd like to think somebody would learn something from an accident like this, but it's useless. Carry good insurance and carry a big stick.

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