CHARLOTTE, N.C. (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) – A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer was killed in a crash involving a tractor-trailer Wednesday morning on southbound Interstate-85 in northeast Charlotte, officials confirm to FOX Charlotte.
Officer killed in northeast Charlotte crash had just returned from maternity leave
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of CMPD Officer Mia Goodwin,” Chief Jennings said. “Officer Goodwin proudly served the University City Division. I ask for your thoughts and prayers for the family of Officer Goodwin and the CMPD family. Rest easy hero, we have watch from here.”
Police officials said officers responded to an incident around 10:30 p.m. to southbound I-85 and W.T. Harris Blvd that involved a tractor-trailer.
At around 3:40 a.m., two other tractor-trailers collided with each other, causing one to crash into two CMPD cruisers.
Officer Mia Goodwin was killed in the crash.
Three other officers, Jackson Buffington, Sean Husk and Shannon Foster, were injured. All three have been released from the hospital, Chief Jennings said. Authorities said it was too early to discuss any potential charges concerning the crash.
A 50-year-old High Point man is facing multiple charges related to the crash.
NCDOT said all southbound lanes were closed near Exit 45 because of the crash. The scene was cleared around 5 p.m. Wednesday. Heavy traffic in the area and along the detour route continued for much of the day Wednesday.
According to CMPD records, it had been nearly 11 years since the last line-of-duty death of a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer.
SWAT Officer Frederick Thornton was killed on February 25, 2011, after he was critically injured when a flash grenade went off while he was trying to render it safe, officials said.
The 50-year-old officer later died from his injuries. At the time of his death, he was the longest-serving member of CMPD’s SWAT team in its history.
