MEMPHIS, Tenn. - It's happened again. A Memphis police officer was involved in a crash in Hickory Hill Wednesday morning. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and both cars were able to drive away from the scene. But that's not always the case.
FOX13 looked at the latest numbers contributing to a patrol car shortage. Wednesday morning's crash in Hickory Hill was at least the 340th involving Memphis Police cars this year. But that means 2/3 were caused by other drivers involved. A sign of the continued dangers on Memphis roads.
You've seen the commercials. Chugg Jamal is the rapper behind the lyrics of the Memphis Police Department's safe driving campaign.
"I don't speed. I do the speed limit. So they be blowing the horn at me, and I be like, 'Go around.' I see them swerving in and out of lanes. They should just slow down," Chugg Jamal said.
So, when Chugg Jamal was tapped to come up with a song to encourage young drivers to brake it down, he had no problem finding the words.
"My girlfriend, she like a crazy driver, so I just rode around with her and took notes," said Jamal.
A marketing scheme Howard Robertson, the founder and CEO of Trust Marketing and Communications, hopes will drive down the numbers of crashes for Memphis drivers, including police officers.
"I hope they take away the point of it and that is to slow down, it is very dangerous," said Robertson.
"If you want to do donuts go to Krispy Kreme," said Chugg Jamal.
The number of crashes so far this year is up slightly from the same time last year. But fewer of the crashes this year have seen an officer accused of being responsible.
Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
Trending stories:
One deputy on life support, another injured after two crashes in Lakeland, SCSO says International Paper cutting about 650 jobs, 400 in Memphis Judge declares Serenity Towers a chronic public nuisance Mid-South Most Wanted Fugitives