CT police officer charged in fatal crash with elderly man
Police officer arrested in fatal collision with 69-year-old man.

Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Stamford Police Officer Arrested in Connection with Fatal 2023 Crash

A police officer from the Stamford Police Department in Connecticut has been arrested and charged in connection with a tragic crash that occurred in 2023, resulting in the death of a 69-year-old pedestrian. The officer, identified as Zachary Lockwood, was taken into custody on Wednesday.

The Incident

The incident took place on July 26, 2023, at around 4:20 p.m. Officer Zachary Lockwood was driving a Ford Police Interceptor Utility along Wire Mill Road in Stamford, heading east. At the time, Tommie Jackson, a resident of Stamford, was crossing the road after collecting his mail from a nearby mailbox.

According to the Connecticut State Police, as Lockwood approached a right curve in the road, he noticed Jackson and attempted to steer away, causing the police vehicle to veer into the westbound lane. The collision occurred when the police vehicle collided with Jackson, who tragically lost his life. Jackson was rushed to Stamford Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigation and Findings

Due to the involvement of an on-duty police officer, the Stamford State’s Attorney’s Office requested assistance from the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad, along with the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad, to investigate the fatal motor vehicle crash.

During the investigation, it was discovered that Officer Lockwood, aged 24, had been assigned to respond to a motor vehicle crash without injuries at an address on Hope Street. However, while en route, Lockwood received an update from dispatch regarding a disturbance involving multiple individuals at the crash scene.

According to state police, Lockwood intermittently activated his emergency siren and overhead lights as he traveled on Wire Mill Road towards the disturbance. Investigators allege that Lockwood’s final activation of the emergency siren occurred just 15 seconds before the collision with Jackson.

Based on the gathered evidence, it was determined that Officer Lockwood’s police vehicle did not meet the criteria to be classified as an emergency vehicle at the time of the collision. Further analysis revealed that Lockwood was traveling at approximately 65 mph, without an audible siren, around 300 feet before the collision. At the moment of impact, the police vehicle was traveling at 46 mph, exceeding the 25 mph speed limit on Wire Mill Road.

Arrest and Charges

Following the completion of the investigation, detectives applied for an arrest warrant, which was subsequently granted by Stamford Superior Court on Wednesday. Upon learning about the arrest warrant, Officer Lockwood voluntarily turned himself in at the Connecticut State Police Troop G in Bridgeport on the same day.

Lockwood has been charged with misconduct with a motor vehicle. He was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled for arraignment on February 21 at Stamford Superior Court, as confirmed by state police.

Internal Investigation

With the conclusion of the state police criminal investigation, the Stamford Police Department Internal Affairs Unit can now initiate an internal administrative investigation into the incident. Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw expressed his condolences to everyone affected by the tragic incident and stated that their thoughts and prayers are with them.

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1. CT police officer charged in fatal crash with elderly victim
2. Police officer in CT faces charges after fatal collision with 69-year-old man.