Gaithersburg Releases Data on City Vehicle Crashes

Some have hit other vehicles, some have struck deer, others have skidded out on snow and ice.

Over the past five and a half years, 171 city-owned vehicles have been involved in crashes while driving or parked, according to data released with the City's daily briefing email on Aug. 19.

The damage total is more than $180,000.

City Communications director Britta Monaco was not immediately available for comment.

The list appears to tally insurance claims, listing city vehicles as "member vehicles," and other vehicles as "claimant" vehicles.

Some incidents required no repairs to be made, two were listed as "totaled."

The report also offers up simple descriptions of the incidents, which range from the mundane ("Hit deer crossing road," "Member vehicle rear ended claimant vehicle") to the oblique ("Noticed a dent that was in the middle, lower left hand panel-cause unknown" "Unknown, vehicle in shop for repairs") to the fascinating ("Responding to emergency on the wrong side of the road," "(Totaled) Member had to close MDC lid, it hit gearshift forcing to 1st gear, spun out hit embankment").

Police vehicles are by far the most common entries on the list, followed by city public works vehicles.

Stay tuned to Patch for more information as this story develops.