Pennsylvania Democratic senator John Fetterman is known for a few things, like his 6-foot-8 frame and his affinity for hoodies, but great driving is certainly not one of them. Maryland State Police body-camera footage released yesterday shows first responders discussing the lawmaker’s June 9 crash, and quoting a witness who said Fetterman was “flying” in his Chevy Traverse when he smashed into the back of a red Impala that was trying to merge.
Fetterman was allegedly speeding on Interstate 70 near Hagerstown, Maryland, when he rear-ended the crap out of the red Chevy Impala at speeds “well over the posted speed limit,” the police report said citing a witness. This is allegedly the third instance where Fetterman has been caught by authorities going significantly over the speed limit, though fortunately it’s the first time it has resulted in a collision.
Thankfully no major injuries were reported in this crash, but Fetterman was treated for a shoulder injury, and he and his wife, who was sitting passenger in the Traverse during the collision, were taken to the hospital in an ambulance. According to The Washington Post,
“The crash put a spotlight on previous unsafe driving by Fetterman. He has received two speeding tickets for violations of at least 24 mph above the speed limit, one in 2016 and one in March, according to Pennsylvania state records. After the ticket this year, when he was driving 34 mph over the limit, he was required by the state to complete a driver’s improvement course, according to a person familiar with the outcome who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the episode. Neither record said exactly where he was driving or how fast he was going.
In response to questions from The Washington Post about the accounts of his driving, a spokesman for Fetterman called them “gossip and inaccurate” but declined to address any specifics.
After the crash, Fetterman reportedly remained polite and answered all questions he was asked by authorities. Though he did not disclose his political identity to the authorities, a man who appears to be an EMT can be seen on the body-cam footage explaining that Fetterman’s signature shorts and sweatshirt combo gave away his public role. The lawmaker released this statement last month regarding the accident,
“This was an unfortunate accident on Sunday, and I’m relieved and grateful that there were no serious injuries,” he said then. “I’ve been driving for almost 40 years, and I’ve gotten a small handful of tickets. When I sped, I was held accountable. I need to do better and do it slower — and I will.”
According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities over the past 20 years. Nobody should be speeding or driving recklessly, but as a lawmaker and a person who people look up to both literally and figuratively, senator Fetterman needs to respect the laws and drive the speed limit. He’s lucky his recklessness didn’t seriously hurt anyone.