Driver Who Struck, Injured Denver Cop Says He Suffered Seizure
DENVER (CBS4) - The Denver man who drove into four police officers Wednesday told CBS4 on Friday he doesn't remember doing it.
Chris Booker said he had a seizure and the first time he learned about his accident at Colfax Avenue and High Street was when a police officer gave him the "evil eye," he said, in the hospital. He asked a nurse why that officer was looking at him, and the nurse, he said, told him: "You hurt one of his buddies."
Police officer John Adsit suffered critical injuries in the accident. He is still hospitalized.
"It just tears me apart that it even happened," Booker said.
Booker, 41, said his seizure was the fourth he's suffered in recent years -- but he's never had one behind the wheel of a car until now. He also explained that, with seizures, a body will go limp or stiff, which could explain, he said, why his Mercedes plowed into the police after his leg slammed on the gas pedal.
"I mean if I had known what I was doing it would've never happened," he said. "I'm not out to kill."
He offered apologies to Adsit and his family on Friday.
"I really feel bad and I want to apologize to the family for that. I would like to come and apologize, but now is not the right time. I do understand that," he said. "When the time comes, I would like to apologize."
Booker became emotional thinking about the injuries suffered by Adsit. The bike patrol officer was providing protection to East High Students walking on Colfax as they protested a grand jury's non-indictment of a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.
Booker said he hopes to visit Adsit when the officer is well enough. Adsit was still listed in critical condition on Friday with more surgeries expected. Booker's car also hit three other bike patrol officers, but none required hospitalization.
Denver police expect to finish their investigation into the accident by next week.
