Valerie RaduThe Chattanooga city employee who told police she hadn't realized she crashed into a motorcycle despite driving away with the bike's handlebar stuck in her car door will be suspended for 15 days, according to Mayor Andy Berke's office.
A city-owned car belonging to Valerie Radu at the Family Justice Center was found in a police parking lot with a motorcycle handle protruding from the side. Radu was cited for leaving the scene of an accident with injuries. Valerie Radu, the director of the city's new Family Justice Center, will be suspended without pay and prohibited from operating a city vehicle, a disciplinary letter issued Friday states.
Radu violated city policy by failing to immediately report the wreck, Stacy Richardson, Berke's senior adviser, wrote to Radu. The letter also notes that Radu has a history of wrecking city vehicles.
"Through a review of police records and in-person interviews, it is clear that Dr. Radu violated the City's vehicle policy in addition to being cited for leaving the scene of an accident," Richardson's letter states. "Dr. Radu has also demonstrated a lack of promptness and appropriate follow through in reporting previous incidents."
Radu caused almost $1,000 worth of damage to a city-owned vehicle in March while attending a conference in Johnson City, Tenn., but failed to "appropriately file information" with the city following the damage, records show.
Radu declined to comment Friday afternoon.
The crash with the motorcycle happened Sept. 2 at 100 N. Market St., according to police. The motorcycle's driver told police he was struck by a car that did not stop. Other officers noticed a white Ford Taurus with a motorcycle handlebar wedged in the passenger-side door parked at the Police Services Center on Amnicola Highway.
When questioned, Radu said she had not realized she hit another vehicle.
"She said she felt a bump and thought that was strange," Officer Joseph Warren wrote in the report.
Warren said he did not believe Radu could have been unaware of the wreck. He cited her for leaving the scene of an accident with injuries.
"Because of the location of the damage, starting with the front right fender and continuing down the side of her car, and based on my understanding of physics and the dynamics of a crash, I felt that she was well aware that she was involved in a crash and failed to report it or stop to render aid to the motorcyclist," the officer wrote.
After the wreck, Radu took and passed a drug test.
Radu's suspension will start Monday and end Oct. 9. A letter of reprimand will be placed in her file and she will be required to submit an employee improvement plan to the city's human resources department, according to the letter.
Radu can contest the decision within five days.
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