LEONI TWP., MI –

on Flansburg Road must take a 60-hour, unpaid suspension, according to a statement from department Director Mike Jester.

“The public safety department takes the safe operation of emergency vehicles very seriously and in this case, the speed at which the officer was traveling was not safe for that area and that time of the day,” according to the statement. “Officer Pohl was cooperative in the internal investigation and takes full responsibility for his actions.”

On his way to assist with a fire in Grass Lake Township, Pohl was driving 79 mph shortly before the Chevrolet Tahoe he drove collided with a Chevrolet Cobalt, Jester said.

Both Pohl and the Cobalt driver, Paula Maria Stone, 18, had minor injuries, reported the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, which investigated the crash.

“Officer Pohl was extremely relieved that the driver of the vehicle he struck was not seriously injured,” according to the statement.

Pohl, heading east, moved into the westbound lane to overtake the Cobalt as Stone, who also was traveling east, tried to make a left turn into a driveway, county Undersheriff Chris Kuhl said. The officer braked and attempted to swerve and miss the Cobalt, but the front, right corner of the Tahoe struck the left, front corner of the car, Kuhl said.

Stone was never given the opportunity to yield because of the Tahoe’s speed, Kuhl said.

Blackman-Leoni township public safety officers regularly receive training on emergency vehicle operation and this training includes lessons on monitoring vehicle speed, Jester’s press release states.

Studies have shown when officers are responding to an emergency and their emergency lights and sirens are operating, there is a release of adrenaline and officers can lose track of how fast they are traveling, according to the statement. This puts stress on the body and can result in “a sort of tunnel vision.”

“This phenomenon must be controlled in order for the officer to arrive safely at an emergency scene" and ensure no one is injured.

Pohl has worked for the department for eight years and has not been disciplined for any similar action in the past, according to the statement.

The officer is to complete an emergency vehicle operations training Thursday at Michigan International Speedway, Jester said. This already was scheduled to take place this week.