Preventing the Next Crash: Safety Tips from Officer Palen
Published on July 26, 2026
Every time Officer Palen is called to investigate a serious traffic crash, he knows he’ll likely find twisted metal, shattered glass, and lives forever changed. As a veteran accident investigator, his job isn’t only to interview witnesses and photograph the damage – it’s to piece together evidence to determine how a routine drive turned into a tragedy. “Traffic enforcement is a key tool law enforcement uses to prevent crashes,” Palen said.
In 2025, Douglas County had 194 crashes with suspected serious injuries and 35 fatalities according to the Kansas Department of Transportation’s “Drive to Zero” dashboard. Few understand just how many of these crashes could be prevented better than Palen, a ten-year officer who has been part of the Lawrence Police Department’s Accident Investigation Team for over six years.
Palen cites driving under the influence as a well-known preventable cause of many crashes but goes on to say, “DUI is known to be deadly, but failing to yield is also a big one, and speeding really can kill people and destroys families.” The Kansas Traffic Safety and Resource Office cites 1,100 injuries and 83 deaths as a result of alcohol-related crashes in Kansas in 2024. However, Palen notes an increase in driving under the influence of other substances as well.
Impairment isn’t the only action putting Lawrence drivers at risk. Aggression on the roads can be just as dangerous. “Speeding,” Palen cautions, “can make the difference between life and death – especially when pedestrians are involved.”
Failing to yield when turning left is another factor officers often see causing crashes. “If you are trying to turn left across two lanes, and someone stops to wave you through, make absolutely sure both lanes are clear before you make that turn,” Palen said. “I have seen countless examples of good people trying to help someone quickly turn into a crash because the driver didn’t check the second lane before completing their turn.”
Officer Palen hopes most people never meet him at a crash scene. Whether he is investigating a crash or on a normal patrol shift, his goal is always the same: preventing the next tragedy before it occurs. Palen urges everyone, including his own family, to take a little extra time to be alert. “Slow down, look both ways in an intersection when your light turns green, and pay attention,” Palen encourages. “It could very well save a life.”