Albany Police Crash Kills Jamar McGill

A citizen-memorial stands at a tree at the corner of Madison & Quail in Albany for Jamar McGill. You'll notice the remnants of many balloons, which either popped due to the heat or (more likely) were popped by the neighborhood riff-raff.

The 21-year old aspiring rapper lost his life early Saturday when the car he was a passenger in was broadsided at the intersection of Madison and Quail in Albany. It sounds to me (from reading the newspaper account) that driver Melissa Escobar must have heard the sirens wail and saw police car #1 barrel thru the intersection.

MELISSA's STORY ::: "There was nothing. It was dead quiet... I want the truth to go out." - Melissa Escobar

Supposing that Escobar was of sound mind and body (and had the green light) it is not illogical to assume that she then proceeded thru the intersection, unaware that there was a second speeding patrol car. A life is ended, and the police officer driving car 2 scarred for life.

from the Times Union: "Erin Calvert, a driver with Trio's Deli near the accident scene, said she saw the accident unfold. One patrol car had already gone through the intersection with its lights on, she said. A second police car followed, and that one hit Escobar's car. Calvert said she only heard sirens from down the street, but not while the police cruisers were approaching the intersection.

Calvert, who said she has previously worked as an EMT, ran to the scene, where the officer involved was standing at the vehicle.

"The cop looked totally scared," Calvert said. "He seemed really worried and was holding the passenger's head and asking if he would be OK."

Question: Why TWO police cars to answer a call at the Psychiatric Center? How many times has ONE officer been placed in a dangerous situation by being dispatched to answer a more serious call ALONE. Like the death earlier this summer or the young Albany boy who died waiting 20 minutes for an ambulance, the poweres that be need to re-think answering the drunk, homeless and psycho calls. Two people are dead thatshouldn't be. Both because emergency responders were tied up tending to morons and idiots.

Tags: Jamar McGill, Melissa Escobar