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Published: July 2, 2009
Maj. J.V. Thomas of the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office received minor injuries after wrecking his car near the N.C. 135 turnoff in Eden early Thursday morning.
Sgt. S.L. Wagner of the N.C. Highway Patrol said that Thomas was traveling on Washington Street in between the N.C. 135 turnoff and Hampton Street when he lost control of his car, ran over the curb, ran off the road to the right, went down an embankment, hit a telephone pole and landed with his car straddling across a ditch. The vehicle was a total loss.
Thomas received minor injuries from the wreck, including minor burns on his neck and arms from the air bags. He was transported to Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, where he was treated and released this morning. No charges have been filed against Thomas.
Speed was a factor in the crash. At the time Thomas lost control of his vehicle, he was traveling at an estimated 50 miles per hour, while the posted speed limit is 35, said Wagner. But he said the crash was most likely caused by Thomas’ “inattention” to the road. Dean Venable, public information officer for the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, said Thomas had been on duty and was returning home after responding to a standoff in Madison in which a man causing a disturbance began firing shots in the direction of deputies.
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Reader Reactions
It’s time for everybody in Rockingham County to wake up ! While Major Thomas at one time was a good Detective, since becoming Major he is on such a power trip that hardly anybody can stand him. He is exactly the reason that over 300 people have come and gone from being employed with the RCSD since Page took office. What do you think that this kind of employee turnover does to morale, as well as the expenses that it costs taxpayers for every employee. Page is one heck of a politician, but not much of a Sheriff. He’s very good at coming to community meetings or through the news media telling you what he thinks you want to hear. Look at the number of deputies working the road and responding to calls for service. It is the same number that it was in 1994 yet his staff has increased by 38 % since taking office. Unbelievable in my opinion. Now we are hearing that Thomas fell asleep and wrecked the car, so why didn’t he pull over if he was that tired or get out and walk around a bit to wake up? Because he thinks that he is “untouchable” and he’s right so long as Page is Sheriff. This type of power abuse and abuse of taxpayer funds must be stopped. In 2010, wake up people and smell the roses ! ! In the meantime, send Jimmy Thomas a bill for replacing the car he destroyed by his own negligence and carelessness. The poor old taxpayer shouldn’t have to fund this one.
I cannot believe these comments I’m reading. Let’s be realistic, The major who used to be a nice guy years ago when he was a detective,has changed, he came from an SRT callout that night. He was’nt far from his home off bryant st when he “fell asleep” and lost control of the first unmarked Dodge charger the county had and flipped it.What took place next is what really bothored me. The sheriff then sends the biggest brown noser,“Capt” in the dept to go pickup the majors wife and bring her to the wreck scene. This is not a common practice, they have not done this in the past for anyone, not the guys who have been shot, not anyone! If speed was a factor he should have been given a ticket at the very least. But they have standard protocols for these types of situations and they include a drug test, I have a feeling that since the Major runs the show over there that he probably bypassed several other protocols.And yes M.D.Martin , JV Thomas used to be a good officer maybe 15 years ago, but he is so punch drunk with power now that he would even make you look like a girlscout. That whole department stinks from abuse of power, in every situation.. When the cameras are around they say and do what the public wants to hear, but when the cameras leave, they tend to make up and enforce the laws as they see fit. If you have not worked under this administration, you have no idea what they are like. And although Im glad he wasnt hurt, it could’nt have happened to a nicer guy..
No excuse if the police find you off the road like this you will be checked for your behavior and most likely get a ticket it either reckless driving or speeding so yes Law enforcement people need tickets just like regular drivers, so if he would have hit someone would we call it stress related-maybe a good guy and good Cop but a ticket won’t hurt him, just make him slow down and pay attention like the rest of us.
All you guys get off major Thomas’s case. I worked with Jim for years and he is a first-class officer. He was returning home from an armed standoff, what the average citizen does not understand is that while the danger is accute, an officer does not have the luxury of fear, the training takes over and you do what you are trained to do…later,when it’s over,fear sets in and your mind tries to process too much horror…been there,done that..so he wrecked a car, big deal..it will cost each of us two cents in our taxes but nobody got killed. I know Jimmy, worked with him for years..anything bad goes down in Rockingham county…Jimmy is going to be there..M.D.Martin..ECPD..retired
You girls are just so smart! Go back to junior high Megan, again if he had killed one of your friends or family members you would be singing a different tune. Want to take a poll of all the troopers in the county? In THIS county we all agree, he gets no ticket, across the county line to the south the story’s a little different. And by the way you did great spelling BLET, much better than your friend did spelling “rooky school”.
rockcowgirl17, You said everything, Thank YOU!! And actually observer999, rookie school is called BLET now and my brother just graduated it, i can assure you its not a walk through the park. Also I know a Trooper and he said in several cases with any wreck, be a cop or a citizen unless they are drunk or doing something really wrong they would not be charged, Major Thomas did nothing excessively wrong!!
Gee rockcowgirl17 you sure are a wealth of information-got a little inside info there? Yes it was hit in the rear and likely not the officer’s fault. No one is judging anybody, just wanting Major Thomas to be held accountable but again, he likely will not be. And you are incorrect that there would probably be no ticket if there was only one car and only property damage. By the way, where does one go to “rooky school” as you spelled it? Is that where you went? Most law enforcement personnel go to “rookie school” and I don’t know, but I bet JAF could make it through at least a day :)
You know .. I saw that wreck just moments after it happened. It appeared to me that the deputy was rear ended. Maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to judge (: .. how bout now?
But he didn’t wreck HIS car, he wrecked a county car and he needs to be held accountable, but he won’t. And I do believe there was another sheriff’s car wrecked being towed in today. How ‘bout now?
Thank you so much rockcowgirl17. What you have said is true and very much correct. You must have some first hand knowledge of public safety and what goes on. It is clear from most of the post that most people don’t have an idea of what is involved.
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