Andrea Whitney, Reporter
Posted: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 4:47 pm

Silsbee Police Officer David Grant Brown has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the results of a DPS Investigation regarding an accident that occurred Saturday, Dec. 1, at approximately 10:45 a.m.

Brown was traveling southbound on 5th Street in Silsbee, assisting in the escort of a funeral procession, when his vehicle struck two pedestrians. Initial reports indicate that a woman, 48, and her daughter,5, crossed the street in front of the officer at the intersection of N. 5th Street and Avenue H and were struck by Brown's vehicle.

Acadian Ambulance was notified and were on the scene within five minutes to assist injured parties. Both the woman and her daughter were transported to a Beaumont hospital and released later the same day. Brown was uninjured.

Chief Mark Davis and the Silsbee Police Department have asked for the Department of Public Safety to be the lead investigating agency on the accident. DPS will gather evidence, collect witness statements, review patrol car video and conduct a full investigation to determine if anyone, and who, may be at fault.

Davis stated Tuesday that this will allow for a level of objectivity and unbiased findings concerning the accident. Davis expects the findings of the DPS investigation to be in within the next two weeks.

Officer Brown is on leave for the time being but is said to be doing well, along with both mother and daughter victims. Silsbee Police Department will also conduct an internal investigation on Officer Brown before his return to office to assure that Brown is fit to return to duty.