Lawsuit claims officers were involved in a “rogue pursuit” when the teenage suspect crashed into semi truck and fatally ejected trucker

A lawsuit filed by the family of a deceased truck driver claims that local police officers were conducting a “rogue pursuit” that went against department policies and state laws when the suspect crashed into their family member’s rig, killing him. 

The June 2023 crash took the life of 57-year-old truck driver Bohdan Vetrov in Lakewood, Washington when he was ejected from his semi truck cab. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in Tacoma court on Wednesday, January 21st. 

According to The News Tribune, the officers were pursuing a 16-year-old suspect in a stolen car in an attempt to scare the suspect and teach him a lesson. The suit calls this a “rogue pursuit,” and says it goes against the policies of the Lakewood Police Department and Washington state law. The suit alleges the officers were not trained on the legalities surrounding pursuits, or certified in any sort of pursuit-intervention. The officers also did not contact their supervising sergeant before chasing the suspect. 

Mark Lindquist Law Lakewood, Police Chief Patrick Smith and the two officers in the pursuit, Cole Craner and Sean Urckfitz, were named in the suit. The lawsuit alleges negligence, deprivation of civil rights and a failure to train officers. Nine other officers were also identified as untrained and not certified in pursuit-intervention options, which are required by department policy and state law.

The family of Vetrov and their lawyers argue that there were safer options for the police to employ that would not have endangered their loved one and ultimately claimed his life. 

Given that the officers failed to use available, approved, and safe alternatives to apprehend the suspect, it is reasonable to infer that the officers were trying to teach the suspect a lesson by scaring him and endangering him or harming him in a chase,” the lawsuit states. “In the rogue pursuit, the officers ignored policies and laws, which is further evidence of an intent beyond legitimate law enforcement.”

This is the second suit filed by the family for the incident.