LAKE JACKSON — A Lake Jackson Police Department officer nearly caused a traffic collision early this morning when a patrol vehicle suddenly pulled out of a roadside ditch onto northbound Highway 288 near the Lake Jackson city limits, according to witnesses.
The incident happened around 6 a.m., while it was still dark, just before the large "Lake Jackson" sign. Witnesses say the patrol unit had been stationary in a roadside ditch, apparently monitoring traffic, when it abruptly darted onto the highway and activated its emergency lights to pursue another vehicle.
The quick movement forced at least two drivers to brake hard and swerve onto the shoulder to avoid hitting the police car. One of the vehicles involved told the Gulf Coast Times they narrowly avoided a collision.
"They just whipped out so fast — like they weren't paying attention to anyone in the lane." the driver said. "They hit their lights as they pulled out, but by then, there was no time to react safely."
After the near-miss, the officer continued to pursue and stop another vehicle on the side of the road, witnesses said. No other officers appeared to be involved in the incident.
Drivers familiar with this stretch of Highway 288 say the area is poorly lit and visibility is limited at night, making sudden maneuvers especially dangerous. Several residents also note that Lake Jackson officers often use hidden positions near the ditches and median cutouts to monitor speeding or aggressive driving.
The tactic itself isn’t unusual, but the execution raised questions about how safely officers conduct roadside enforcement, particularly in low-visibility areas.
“It’s not that we don’t support traffic enforcement,” one local driver said. “It’s just that it shouldn’t come at the expense of safety for everyone else on the road.”
As of Thursday morning, the Lake Jackson Police Department has not issued a statement regarding the incident. The department’s policy manual, available online, emphasizes maintaining safe distance, awareness of traffic flow, and the use of emergency lights when merging into traffic from stationary positions.
While no crash occurred, drivers are calling for increased accountability and caution when officers engage in speed enforcement along major highways. Many believe improved visibility, better lighting, and coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation could help reduce similar risks in the future.
TL;DR
A Lake Jackson patrol officer nearly caused a collision on Highway 288 around 6 a.m. Wednesday after darting from a ditch onto the road to stop a vehicle. Witnesses say multiple drivers had to brake and swerve to avoid a crash. The department hasn’t commented, and residents are calling for safer enforcement tactics.
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