NIOSH • 1000 Frederick Lane, Morgantown, WV 26508 • 304-285-5916

Officer dies in motor vehicle crash at an 

intersection while responding to a shots fired 

call – South Carolina

(NIOSH LEO 2016-03)

FACE IT: Report Slides
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Summary

• A 37-year-old municipal 

police officer was fatally 

injured when her patrol car 

was struck by another law 

enforcement vehicle on a 

city roadway while 

responding to a shots fired 

call.

• The officer was en-route to 

her primary patrol region 

after escorting a suspect to 

the city jail when she 

responded to a shots fired 

call from municipal dispatch. 

Municipal patrol unit at crash scene 

(Photo courtesy of South Carolina Highway Patrol)
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Summary

• Multiple university and 

municipal police officers were 

working in the same vicinity 

and simultaneously responded 

to the shots fired call. 

• As the municipal police officer 

was traveling westbound, 

running lights and sirens, she 

entered an intersection against 

the traffic control device. 

• At the same time, a university 

police officer traveling 

northbound, also running 

lights and siren, entered the 

same intersection. Photo of the university patrol 4x4 utility vehicle at crash scene 

(Photo courtesy of South Carolina Highway Patrol)
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Summary

• The northbound university 

patrol vehicle crashed into 

the westbound municipal 

patrol car. 

• Both officers were taken to a 

local medical center by 

ambulance. 

• The municipal police officer 

died from injuries sustained 

in the crash. 

• The university police officer 

received serious injuries

Location and route of multiple agencies and officers at the 

time of the shots fired call
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Contributing Factors

• Two vehicles entered intersection at 

the same time 

• Speed of vehicles 

• Multiple agency and patrol car 

response 

• Potential adrenaline overload 

• Poor line of sight at the intersection
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Recommendations • State, county, and municipal law 

enforcement agencies should 

consider developing and 

implementing standard operating 

procedures (SOPs) that require 

drivers to come to a complete stop 

at red traffic lights and stop signs 

during responses and proceed 

through intersections only after 

ensuring it is safe to continue

• State, county, and municipal law 

enforcement agencies should 

consider developing and 

implementing SOPs that limit the 

speed of a patrol unit during 

responses. Impact of municipal and university patrol units (Courtesy of 

South Carolina Highway Patrol) 
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Recommendations

• State, county, and municipal 

law enforcement agencies and 

training academies should 

consider training and 

emphasizing Tactical Arousal 

Control Techniques to enhance 

officer’s ability to combat 

negative effects of ‘adrenaline 

dump’ that can occur when 

responding to hot calls.

Municipal patrol unit involved in crash 

(Courtesy of South Carolina Highway Patrol)
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Recommendations

• State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies should establish and 

enforce a standard operating policy that requires all officers to wear a seatbelt 

while operating or riding in a patrol unit.

• State, county, and municipal agencies should consider developing and 

implementing interagency jurisdictional policies that outline roles and 

responsibilities in situations or physical locations where a multiple agency 

response is possible. 
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Officer dies in motor 

vehicle crash at an 

intersection while 

responding to a shots 

fired call – South 

Carolina

(NIOSH LEO 2016-03)

Download the full report: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/pdfs/L201603.pdf
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Contact Us

Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation 

Surveillance and Field Investigations Branch

Division of Safety Research, NIOSH

1000 Frederick Lane, M/S 1808

Morgantown, West Virginia 26505-2888

FACE Web Site: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/

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