New police chief gets a smashing welcome
On May 14, Bonners Ferry Police Chief Brian Zimmer-man was driving his personal vehicle when it was struck by another car on the North Hill. Courtesy photo
(Courtesy Photo) Bonners Ferry Police Chief Brian Zimmerman’s car was spun around 180 degrees.
(Courtesy Photo) Bonners Ferry Police Chief Brian Zimmerman attributes his safety to the multiple airbags and safety precautions built into the newer vehicles.
BONNERS FERRY — New Bonners Ferry Police Chief Brian Zimmerman was heading up the North Hill on U.S. 95 after his shift on May 14.
“Traffic was fairly light. I just got out of the city limits and was starting up the long, sweeping left hand corner and I see an S10 Blazer coming across the painted divider in a perfectly straight line, and I’m thinking this is going to be a head on, and there is nothing I can do about it,” Zimmerman explained.
He was holding the steering wheel, thinking “this is going to hurt.” He managed to veer to the right, getting his vehicle halfway across the fog line before the other vehicle struck him, impacting first on the driver’s door, then the passenger rear door, and spun him around 180 degrees, and causing two of his airbags to deploy.
He immediately called in the accident then went to check on the occupants of the other vehicle, which had come to a stop after hitting the jersey barrier twice. Upon reaching them, he asked the driver if he was OK.
“He said he was fine and wanted to know how the people were in the Camry,” said Zimmerman. “I said that would be me — and I’m fine.”
The driver apologized and explained what had happened.
“Apparently, they said that the steering locked, went straight, and they could not pull it — and even his passenger was trying to pull the steering wheel — and it just kept on going,” said Zimmerman.
Although the vehicles were a loss, there were no serious injuries, and Zimmerman was back to work the next day.