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»' »f.i: H> -IM,.\!\I>KALER - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1.1980 Your Police Department by Officer Jim Fitzgerald * * * 5 * 5 * * * * * * During this past year, we have seen that the accident rate has dropped drastically in the city of McHenry. However, we all can admit that there are still far too many accidents, and the amount of damage to property and vehicles (not to mention injuries to drivers, passengers and pedestrians) is extremely high With any kind of luck at all, you will Publ ic Relat ions Off icer McHenry Ci ty Pol ice Phone 385-2131 not have an accident in the near future, or for that matter, ever. However, if you should have an accident, here are a few things that you should do right away to insure your safety, and your rights. First, stay at the scene of the accident. Don't leave the scene to go home to call the police. If you are near a phone, or a business that has * * * * * * * * * * * * * *- a phone, walk over and call the police department. If you have a CB, call the police on Channel 9 or 19. After calling the police, go back to your vehicle and stay there until a police officer arrives. Stay off of the road so that you are not hit by the vehicles that drive by. If you are injured, have someone else call the police ; in other words, don't move. You do not know how bad the injury is, and you could make the injury worse by getting up and walking around. The other person can call; or someone passing will contact the police department. If the other person tries to leave the scene of the ac­ cident, copy down or remember the license plate number first, and then the description of the vehicle The easiest thing for the police to. trace is a correct license plate number. The plate will give us all the information we need about whom the vehicle belongs to, and where it might be. Also, try to get the names of all witnesses that you can, and their phone numbers so that we can contact them later, if they have to leave. If you can, ask them to stay at the scene with you so that the officer can talk to them first. When the police get to the scene, the first thing that they will ask of everyone there is whether they are alright, and not hurt. If you are hurt, tell the officer so that he can get you medical attention right away. Do not worry about having to leave the scene with the rescue squad because the officer can come to the hospital, later, and talk to you there. Be ready to tell the officer exactly what happened, in as much detail as you can as to what you were doing, which way you were traveling, how fast, and what you did, if there was time, to avoid the accident, and what the other driver did. Also have your driver's license ready to give to the office. If yOu do leave the scene because of an injury, and the officer has your driver's license and the license plate of your vehicle, he has everything that he needs to start the accident report, and can get the statement from you later as to what happend. After the officer has finished the report, he will give you a long form that you will have to fill out and send to the Secretary of State's office to give your side of the report. You do not have to fill oul the form right away, "But you can do it later in the day after you relax awhile. The report form will have a number written on it by the officer. This number is the number of the report that the officer has to file with the Secretary of State's office. After you have called your insurance man and have told him what has happened, he will probably want a copy of the police officer's report. You can pick up a copy of the officer's report after three working days at the police department, and there is a small fee. When you go to the police department, ask for the report with the number that the officer wrote on your form. If you have any problems in filling out the report form, ask your insurance man and I'm sure that he will help you. The forms look very complicated at first, but after you read it over, you will see that it is very easy to fill out, and it only asks for the general information about yourself; your vehicle, and the other driver's in­ October is Coat Month at Spiess! Great cover story for % vi--A!s The "Mop" just for fun, but warm as toast. 100 percent acrylic shag yarn, S,M,L. Reg. 90.00 68.00 The scarf coat heads the class again this season. Goes on and on to meet your boot tops! 80% wool/20% nylon. 5-15. Reg. 120.00 88.00 Vested interest, a quick zip turns this trim ski jacket into a warm vest. Two for winter at the price of one. S,M,L. Multi­ color nylon. Reg. 70.00 48.00 Junior Coats, Elgin on 3, Crystal Lake & St. Charles We welcome your Spiess Charge, Visa ana MasterCard Free Parking bt Charles Mall, Crystal Point Mall, Upper Deck Elgin Plaza. formation, which will be on the report that the police officer files. Also, the form has a spot for you to explain in your own words just what happened, and a place for you to draw a picture of the scene. If the other person receives a ticket resulting from the accident, you will be called as a witness in court in case the other person decides to plead not guilty, so that you can tell your side of the story. If it is necessary for you to be there, the officer will see to it that you receive a subpeona that will have the date and time of the court, so you can plan ahead for that day. Hopefully, you will not have an accident and will never need to use these suggestions. If the need arises, I hope that I have been able to help you. BO a e oooooBOB Safety Hints OOQQQOQOQOOO< BY ALAN J. DIXON Secretary of State Many accidental deaths are caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas. Observance of a few safety measures could save your life or the life of a loved one. Have your exhaust system checked before winter weather sets in. A faulty muffler or leaks in the exhaust system might allow this lethal gas to seep into your vehicle. Know the warning signals of carbon monoxide poisoning. Weariness, yawning, dizziness, nausea, headache and ringing in the ears could result in tragedy. The only means of fighting this gas are to stop the engine and get plenty of fresh air. There are four simple precautions for you to take to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning: 1) Have the exhaust system checked regularly for any leakage. 2.) Do not start the engine, run the engine while parked, or drive with all the windows, closed tightly. 3.) Do not start your vehicle or warm up the engine in a closed garage. 4.) Don't allow children access to your car keys. They enjoy imitating adults, but pretending to drive the car could be a game with deadly results. (A copy of the rules of the Road will be sent to you upon request. Write to Alan J. Dixon, Secretary of State, Springfield, 111., 62756.) HONOR"OPERATORS" Public water supply operators from Jackson, Marion and McHenry counties were named "Operator of the Year" Thursday night at the forty- ninth annual Illinois Potable Water Supply Operators Association's (IPWSOA) conference in Springfield, co-sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Protection agency. Presented for outstanding waterworks performance, this is the highest award in the state for a water supply operator. They are Ernest W. Bates, Jr., of Woodstock, McHenry county, who won in the ground water supply category; James W. Swayze, of Carbondale, Jackson county, who won in the surface * water supply category; and James R. Green, of the Raccoon Water company, Marion county, who won in the distribution water supply category. Accidents will happen. That's why you need the protection that American Family s Special Homeowners Package Policy provides. It's the most complete home­ owners coverage we've ever offered. Call me today for all the details. Because your home Is special. TONY CHUCK LEWANDOWSKI 1308 N. PARK •MCHENRVI CALL US FOR DETAILS 385 2304 *OMt mam is wait* ttft • f .m.1, Mutua, ln,u,jnCtCo