(TheIndependentStar.com) – In a horrible tragedy, Phylicia Carson, a 33-year-old Missouri police officer and mother of six, tragically lost her life in a high-speed pursuit of an escaping driver.
The accident occurred early Sunday morning when Officer Carson, while patrolling in Camden County near the Lake of the Ozarks, attempted to stop a speeding vehicle.
According to Osage Beach Police Chief Todd Davis, Carson initiated her police lights to conduct the traffic stop, but the driver accelerated away, prompting a chase.
During the pursuit, Carson lost control of her vehicle, which left the road and collided with a tree, subsequently catching fire.
Attempts to contact her by radio following the crash were unsuccessful.
Chief Davis, visibly emotional, confirmed her death at a press conference, stating, “Officer Carson perished in the crash.”
The driver, identified as 23-year-old Christopher Aaron Bishop Wehmeyer, also crashed shortly after and was apprehended by the police.
He now faces charges of aggravated fleeing, resulting in death, following the recent implementation of Valentine’s Law in Missouri.
This law penalizes fleeing from police under circumstances that pose a significant risk of serious injury or death.
Carson had been with the department since June 2023 and is survived by her husband, Grant Carson, and their six children.
Chief Davis appealed for the community’s support during this difficult time, saying, “Please keep the Carson family, our Department, and our community in your thoughts and prayers as we work through this tragic event.”
The incident, which is under investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, marks the department’s first line-of-duty death in 30 years.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson and Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe expressed their condolences, emphasizing the enduring memory of Officer Carson’s service.
Tributes from family and friends highlighted her inspiring personality, deeply felt by those around her. Cira
Clement Monnig, a family friend, expressed her sorrow on social media, calling Carson a “God loving, momma bear, funny, outspoken, ball of joy” and asked for prayers for the Carson family during this profoundly difficult time.
The charges against the driver were filed shortly after Missouri enacted Valentine’s Law.
Camden County Prosecuting Attorney Richelle Grosvenor elaborated on the consequences of such charges, stating to KY3, “A suspect who is charged becomes a defendant, and that can be up to a felony, which is 10 to 30 years to life in prison.”
Copyright 2024, TheIndependentStar.com
