(Memphis) The Memphis Police Department now says an officer involved in a deadly crash this past Sunday was in “non-emergency mode” at the time of the crash at Crump Boulevard and Walnut Road.
A police release names the officer as 23-year-old Alex Beard.
Memphis police say Beard was on his way to assist another officer and did not have his lights and siren on at the time.
MPD policy requires an officer to use lights and siren if exceeding the speed limit and/or ignoring speed limits and stop signs and that “Failure to use this emergency equipment could result in the officer and the City being held civilly liable for any damages caused by a traffic crash.”
It is not clear what the officer’s speed was at the time of the crash. Witnesses say Beard did have the right of way.
The initial investigation shows Beard was goign east on Crump Boulevard in a marked 2009 Dodge Charger when the crash happened.
Another car, with four people inside, was going west on Crump but turned south onto Walnut Road.
The car hit the officer’s vehicle then hit a light pole.
Killed were Deloise Epps and her boyfriend’s teenage daughter, Mackala Ross.
Two other people in the car were treated and released from The MED.
Beard was also treated and released, he has been employed by the Memphis Police Department since October 2010.
Beard is currently assigned to Union Station and has been routinely relieved of duty pending the outcome of this investigation.
