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West Chester police officer Nicholas Gattermeyer.
Members of the West Chester maintenance crew trim a tree at the scene of an accident involving police officer Nicholas Gattermeyer.
Officer in critical condition after early morning crash
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By Dave Greber,
Staff Writer
Updated 12:19 PM Wednesday, November 25, 2009
A West Chester Twp. police officer remained in critical condition Tuesday, Nov. 24, following an on-duty crash overnight.
West Chester police officer Nicholas Gattermeyer, 24, was responding to a call of a burglary in progress just after 1:45 a.m. Tuesday in the 7700 block of Barret Road, according to West Chester Sgt. Joe Gutman. The officer’s cruiser went off the road and struck a utility pole and then a tree near the intersection of Dimmick Road and Friar Tuck Drive.
The crash trapped Gattermeyer in his cruiser for a short time, but he was freed by members of the West Chester Fire Department. Other officers responding nearby were first on the scene within minutes of the crash.
He was transported to University Hospital via ambulance, where as of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday he was listed as critical condition, Gutman said.
Officials said his condition is believed to be improving, although they have not released the injuries he sustained.
Gattermeyer was hired by the West Chester Police Department in February 2008, according to township spokeswoman Barb Wilson.
West Chester Police Chief Erik Niehaus and other members of the department, township Administrator Judi Boyko and members of Gattermeyer’s family spent the morning and early afternoon at University Hospital, Wilson said.
Several hours after the crash, crews were still cleaning up debris and cutting down the tree that was heavily damaged in the yard where Gattermeyer’s cruiser came to rest. The crash occurred in the yard of Karen Goodwin, a nurse who just moved into the home Oct. 1.
Goodwin said she did not hear anything when the accident occurred.
“Later, I looked out my window and said, ‘Oh my God,’ ” Goodwin said. Had she been awakened by the crash, she said, she would have rushed to Gattermeyer’s aid.
“It’s just real sad,” Goodwin said.
Gattermeyer is the nephew of Hamilton Municpal Court Judge Daniel J. Gattermeyer.
He is a 2003 graduate of Fairfield High School and a current resident of Woodlawn, according to township records.
West Chester Twp. Trustee George Lang asked the public to keep Gattermeyer and his family in their prayers.
“Officer Gattermeyer was injured while responding to an emergency call,” Lang said. “Let that be a reminder to us that our heroes risk their lives to keep us safe. And when I say heroes, I mean people like Officer Gattermeyer.”
Niehaus spoke briefly to the media Tuesday morning, and, like Lang, asked the public to keep the family in their prayers.
“His police family is here and his family is here,” Niehaus said. “During this time, we just ask that you keep all of us in your prayers.”
Additional details are not likely to be released Tuesday, Niehaus said.
Those who know Gattermeyer said growing up he was a person with strong character.
Chet Hard, of Fairfield, coached the officer — a former third baseman and occasional pitcher — in summer baseball for a number of years.
The two families lived in the same neighborhood, said Hard, who learned of the accident early Tuesday.
“We knew the risk with Nick’s job, and when we found out, we were in disbelief,” Hard said.
“Nick was a very principled guy, and he had a strong character,” he remembered. “He was a good kid to coach. He was just an all-around good kid.”
Another family friend, Jerry Vincent of Fairfield, also learned of the accident early Tuesday.
“He’s a fine young man,” Vincent said. “And I’d like to just concentrate on him and his family.”
Police said they don’t expect the investigation into the accident to take at least a week.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.
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