Hurst police officer recalls icy close call with car

A Hurst police officer’s close call with a vehicle is giving him a new lease on life – and just in time for the new year.

On the last day of 2017, Hurst Police Officer Jonathan Cramer spent his entire shift responding to one icy crash after another. There were nearly 20 in all. But one on Highway 183 could have been his last.

"The car was coming, I was just trying not to fall, trying to stay away from the traffic that was in my lane to my right,” he recalled. “But unfortunately, I ended up falling. But fortunately, far enough away from that vehicle."

As he watched the car skidding toward him, Officer Cramer says he thought he was going to be hit for sure.

"I lucked out,” he said. “But at the last second, he went to the right a little bit, and I was able to get out of the way and get my hand out of the way, too.”

Cramer says he's still a little uncomfortable watching the video from his dash cam. And as for his wife who's expecting their second child any day now?

"It was scary for her watch the video. But she was happy to have me home,” Cramer said. “She understands the dangers of my line of work. And it's not only getting shot up or anything like that or fights — also traffic hazards are a big danger in law enforcement."

Cramer says aside from a little bruising, he's fine. As for the driver who almost clipped him?

"No ticket,” he said. “He apologized, and I sent them on his way as quickly as possible so we don’t cause any other traffic jams.

The Hurst Police Department posted the video on its Facebook page.

"We decided to put it out quickly so people could think about how fast you're driving and the road conditions to see how quickly something could go wrong,” Cramer explained.