ENGLEWOOD, N.J.-- Police issued two summonses Tuesday to the driver of a van that hit a city motorcycle patrolman, causing him critical injuries.
However, the driver's father insisted the officer was speeding down their residential street and that his son did nothing wrong.
Benjamin Cohen, 40, of Van Nostrand Avenue was issued summonses for reckless driving and failure to yield to oncoming traffic, said Capt. Kevin Hartnett of the Bergen County Police, which investigated the accident.
Patrolman Doug Menist was headed down Van Nostrand Avenue to a house alarm call Monday afternoon when his motorcycle collided with the Ford Econoline van as Cohen turned out of his driveway, police said.
Cohen couldn't be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Cohen's father insisted that Menist was speeding and lost control. He said his son plans to contest the summonses in court.
"He hit my son. My son didn't hit him," said Jacob Cohen. "I feel bad, but he drove so fast -- minimum 70 miles per hour."
Investigators had not determined Menist's speed late Tuesday.
Englewood Deputy Police Chief Arthur O'Keefe said Menist, who was responding to a residential burglar alarm on the block, was flashing his emergency lights and not driving recklessly.
"We have no indication that he was operating anything but safely," O'Keefe said.
The 45-year-old officer was still unconscious and under close watch at Hackensack University Medical Center early Tuesday evening, O'Keefe said. He suffered internal and head injuries that are considered life-threatening.
Menist, a 17-year veteran of the department, has three daughters -- one in college and two in high school. His decorations include awards for rescuing the inhabitants of a burning building and for delivering a baby in 2004, O'Keefe said.
"We're right now just hoping he survives," said O'Keefe.
"Police officers are used to life-and-death situations," the deputy chief said. "This just brought it home."
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