Washington Metropolitan Police officer dies after being struck while helping a motorist

Terry Bennett, a Washington Metropolitan Police officer struck by a vehicle on Dec. 23 while assisting a stranded motorist, has died; the driver remained at the scene and the department says the incident is under investigation.

The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department announced that Officer Terry Bennett has died from injuries sustained when he was struck by a vehicle on Dec. 23 while helping a motorist who had run out of gas. He had been hospitalized since the collision and the driver who struck him remained at the scene, the department said. No charges have been filed and the incident is under investigation, officials reported. Bennett joined the department in February 2018. Known details: - Officer Terry Bennett, 32, was struck on Dec. 23 while assisting a motorist who ran out of gas. - He was hospitalized following the incident and has now died. - The driver remained at the scene; no charges have been filed and the Metropolitan Police Department says the case is under investigation. Summary: Bennett's death is reported as the 127th line-of-duty death in the Metropolitan Police Department's 164-year history and the first since 2024. City and department leaders issued statements of sympathy and noted his community involvement. The investigation into the incident is ongoing and any further legal or procedural steps have not been announced. Undetermined at this time.