Quick Facts:
Where: The accident occurred in the southbound lanes of Interstate 85 near W.T. Harris Boulevard in Charlotte, North Carolina.
What Happened: A tractor-trailer allegedly struck several police vehicles, a tractor-trailer, and a police officer on foot.
Participants:
- Officer Mia Goodwin, pedestrian
- Officer Sean Husk
- Officer Jackson Bluffington
- Officer Shannon Foster
- Daniel Morgan, driver of tractor-trailer
Reported Injuries/Fatalities:
- Officer Mia Goodwin, killed
- Officer Sean Husk, injured
- Officer Jackson Bluffington, injured
- Officer Shannon Foster, injured
Details:
On or about Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021, around 3:40 in the morning, a major accident between a tractor-trailer and multiple police patrol vehicles claimed the life of one officer and sent three others to the hospital. Troopers from the NCHP said the accident was reported along the northbound side of Interstate 85 near the exchange with W.T. Harris Boulevard in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Law enforcement representatives said Officer Mia Goodwin was killed, while Officers Sean Husk, Jackson Bluffington, and Shannon Foster were injured when a tractor-trailer driven by Daniel Morgan allegedly crashed into multiple police patrol vehicles and an 18-wheeler at the scene of a previous accident on southbound I-85. Emergency responders pronounced Goodwin dead of her injuries a short time after the collision, while Foster, Bluffington and Husk were taken to the hospital with injuries of an unknown nature or severity.
Authorities have since charged Daniel Morgan with involuntary manslaughter, misdemeanor death by vehicle, failure to reduce speed, and felony failure to move over for stopped emergency vehicles in connection with the crash.
According to Google Maps, the exchange of Interstate 85 and W.T. Harris Boulevard is situated on the north side of Charlotte.
Multiple agencies are assisting in the investigation.