A Mobile police officer was speeding through an intersection when a motorcycle slammed into the side of the police SUV, ejecting the motorcyclist who later died at a local hospital.
A crash investigation conducted by the Mobile Police Department, found on the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) records page, cited two contributing factors in the accident which claimed the life of 67-year-old Robert Sayen of Semmes.
Investigators determined Sayen, riding a 2007 Harley-Davidson Road King, had failed to yield the right of way, while Mobile police officer Paul Callegari was driving 56 mph in his 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe police unit through an intersection with a posted speed limit of 40 mph.
There was no police emergency or pursuit at the time of the incident, MPD’s investigators determined, which occurred at the intersection of Cody Road and Ziegler Boulevard about 7 p.m. on March 29.
Callegari was placed on administrative leave in the wake of the accident. It’s unclear whether he’s been returned to duty. While Callegari is identified as the officer involved through a search of the ALEA records page, Mobile police have never confirmed his identity nor released additional information.
The report also indicates the traffic lights at the intersection were not fully functional the night of the crash. Callegari, traveling west on Ziegler Road, had a yellow flashing lights, while Sayen was traveling north on Cody Road and had red flashing lights at the intersection.
While the report says Sayen’s failure to yield the right of way was a contributing factor, it’s not clear whether he ran the red light, expected the other vehicle to also have a red flashing light, or simply failed to see Callegari’s police cruiser coming toward the intersection.
The incident marks the second time in recent months Callegari’s name has been in the news. In October, Callegari was seen in a viral video repeatedly punching a handcuffed man. Initial court filings showed that as he was being placed under arrest by Callegari, the suspect grabbed Callegari’s “testicles and penis and twisted them, causing serious physical pain.”
Callegari was placed on administrative leave following that incident, with Mobile police promising a “thorough examination of all aspects of the case” by the police department’s Office of Professional Responsibility.
Mobile Chief of Staff James Barber said the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI were also notified of the incident.
The results of that investigation were never made public.
Callegari was also one of the Mobile police officers who attended a rally in support of Mobile police chief Paul Prine, who is himself on administrative leave amidst a flurry of accusations between Prine and Mobile city administration. Prine specifically asked for Callegari as he spoke to the crowd at Municipal Park Saturday afternoon.