DC police officer dies after being struck by car on I-695

Officer Terry Bennett Dies After Being Struck by Vehicle

WASHINGTON – D.C. police are mourning the death of Officer Terry Bennett. He was struck by a vehicle on I‑695 just two days before Christmas.

Bennett, assigned to the First District, died Wednesday after spending two weeks in the hospital. The department plans to hold a procession in his honor on Thursday.

The crash occurred just after 10 p.m. on Dec. 23. Bennett stopped along the southbound lanes of I‑695 near South Capitol Street to help a driver who had run out of gas. While assisting the motorist, he was hit by another vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed.

Bennett was taken to a local hospital. For two weeks, colleagues, friends, and family hoped for a different outcome.

Bennett was a D.C. native. He graduated from Ballou High School and Bucknell University. He continued to coach and mentor students at Ballou. He joined the Metropolitan Police Department in 2018 and spent his eight-year career in the First District.

“The men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department stand shoulder to shoulder with Officer Bennett’s family and friends as they process this unimaginable loss,” said Interim Chief of Police Jeffery Carroll in a statement. “Officer Bennett was a model officer, a born and raised Washingtonian who wanted to make a positive impact on his community, dedicating himself to bettering the lives of young people. This loss is devastating for both our department and our city. I ask that all Washingtonians reflect on Officer Bennett’s sacrifice and keep his family in their thoughts and prayers.”

Funeral arrangements have not yet been made. The crash remains under investigation. Bennett’s death is the 127th line of duty death in the 164-year history of the Metropolitan Police Department.