Virginia State Trooper Sues Over Injuries During Car Chase

A Virginia State Police state trooper is now suing a man who struck his patrol car at 113 mph during a chase in Hampton Roads. The injuries he sustained during the crash left him without a job for over four months.

Sergeant John Havrilla, a 13-year veteran with the police force returned to duty four months after his January 9 crash, according to his attorney. The driver of the other car, Mario Lamont Ferebee, 35, was convicted of eluding police and destruction of property in a circuit court in June for his crimes committed.

Earlier this year, Ferebee, the suspect in the car chase, was convicted with several other crimes by the General District Court, including several misdemeanors and violations from the same incident. He was charged with driving on a suspended license, driving under the influence, and three criminal counts of disregarding a traffic signal, according to online criminal reports.

The online report stated the man was driving south on I-464 in southern Norfolk when a Virginia state trooper clocked him at 79 mph in a 60 mph zone as he was measuring radar on motorists in the area. The trooper flipped his lights on an pursued the suspect down the freeway. During the chase, Ferebee exceeded more than 110 mph on the busy Hampton Roads interstate, weaving in and out of cars on Interstate 64. According to the officer, Ferebee nearly hit multiple cars at over 100 mph.

Just after the maximum speed was reached during the car chase, Ferebee took a sharp exit onto Military Highway in Hampton Roads and sped through three red lights, according to the court filing. Just after the exit from the freeway, state trooper Havrilla drove just past the suspect and prepared to pursue him into the next town. The trooper was in an unmarked police car with his sirens and light on, according to the court documents.

Just after the trooper pursed the suspect on the two-lane road, Ferebee turned jerked his steering wheel right very suddenly and struck Havrilla’s police car from behind at an estimated 113 mph, causing him to spin uncontrollably. The suit filed to the court stated the officer was driving at 100 mph.

The suspect’s 2o13 Dodge Avenger spun out at max speed and sideswiped a light pole. Ferebee was taken into custody at the scene when more officers arrived. Trooper Havrilla sustained minor, but serious injuries.

According to court documents, state trooper Havrilla suffered a concussion, blunt injuries to his head, neck and back, chronic leg pain, and cuts to his hands and his right eye. Michael Imprevento, Havrilla’s attorney in the case, stated his client has been involved in several cases where he has been injured during car chases with reckless motorists.

The legal suit involving the officer crashing is currently seeking $250,000 in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages. State trooper Havrilla is currently back on duty with the local police force.

By Alex Lemieux

Source:

Hampton Roads Pilot: State police sergeant sues driver who hit him in Chesapeake chase

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