MEMPHIS, Tenn. — UPDATE: Two are dead, including a Memphis police officer, after an early morning crash on Shelby Drive.
The Memphis Police Department said the MPD officer who was involved died at Regional One. The driver of the other vehicle died at the scene.
The crash happened around 2:30 a.m. Thursday at East Shelby Drive and Pleasant Hill. MPD said the officer was driving eastbound on East Shelby Dr. when another vehicle traveling northbound on Pleasant Hill hit the officer's squad car.
Due to this being a deadly crash involving an on-duty officer, the Tennessee Highway Patrol is conducting the investigation.
The Memphis Police Association identified the officer killed as Officer Corille Jones.
The identify of the other driver has not yet been released.
In a post for a fundraiser for the officer's family, the Memphis Police Association Charitable Foundation said, "On January 20, 2022, Officer Corille Jones of the Memphis Police Department was killed as the result of a traffic crash that occurred while on duty. Ofc. Jones was 32 years old and leaves behind two daughters. He proudly served the citizens of Memphis for 1 year and 11 months."
MPD Chief CJ Davis spoke Thursday morning after the crash, saying: "A Memphis Police Department officer and a citizen collided in this intersection, and at this particular time we have Tennessee Highway Patrol out here that is taking control of this investigation. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the citizen that lost their (life) and also to our officer. This is just a reminder of the risks our officers take every day as they do their work, and we sincerely hope in the days to come that we can find peace and comfort for the family of both the officer's family and also the citizen's family. So we don't have very much more, at this particular time but we will be providing updates as the days goes on."
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland tweeted, "I was saddened to learn of the deaths of a citizen and a Memphis police officer who were killed in a terrible car crash while the officer was responding to a call. This serves as a reminder that the men and women of the Memphis Police Department put their lives on the line each time they put on the uniform. I ask you to join me in prayer to lift up Officer Corille Jones’ family as well as his work family at the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department."
----------
One person is dead after an early morning crash involving a Memphis police officer.
The Memphis Fire Department confirmed that there was one person pronounced dead on the scene and the officer was taken to Regional One.
MFD said the crash happened around 2:30 Thursday morning.
Due to this crash, Shelby Drive between Lamar and Malone was closed in both directions while police investigated.
