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Benny Williams

Gender : Male

Age : 79

Race : White

Date : 08/30/2024

Location : U.S. 40/East Main Street and Smith Road

City : Plainfield

County : Hendricks

State : Indiana

Agency : Plainfield Police Department

Officer(s) :John Westerfield

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : 2 bystanders killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On August 30, 2024, at approximately 5:45 p.m., Officer Logan Westerfield of the Plainfield Police Department responded to a report of a person down at a Long John Silver's restaurant in the 2300 block of East Main Street. Upon arrival, Officer Westerfield encountered 38-year-old Bryan Goodmon, who was reportedly impaired and sitting in a vehicle. As the officer approached, Goodmon fled in a white Kia, nearly striking the officer.
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Officer Westerfield initiated a pursuit with lights and sirens activated. The chase proceeded onto U.S. 40, where the suspect vehicle crossed the intersection at Smith Road. As Officer Westerfield entered the intersection against a red light, his police cruiser collided with a gray Ford Fusion occupied by Bennie Joe Williams, 79, and his wife, Barbara Williams, 78, both of Clayton, Indiana. The couple had a green arrow and were turning onto U.S. 40 when the collision occurred.
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Both Bennie and Barbara Williams sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased at the scene. Officer Westerfield was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries and was later released.
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The Avon Police Department conducted an investigation, revealing that Officer Westerfield was traveling at approximately 100 mph seconds before the crash and failed to exercise "due regard" when proceeding through the intersection. The report noted that emergency vehicles can outrun their sirens at speeds over 55 mph, likely preventing the Williamses from hearing the approaching cruiser.
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Following the investigation, Officer Westerfield resigned from the Plainfield Police Department on October 18, 2024.
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As of the latest available information, no criminal charges have been filed against Officer Westerfield in connection with the incident.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES DURING THIS POLICE ENCOUNTER: 2 fatalities (Bennie Joe Williams and Barbara Williams)
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Last Update: 12/06/2024

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/plainfield-officer-resigns-deadly-crash-police-chase-clayton-indiana-couple-barbara-bennie-williams-us-40-smith-road/531-399701a7-6995-43a8-aeca-952222bc23c8
https://fox59.com/news/plainfield-police-officer-who-crashed-into-killed-elderly-couple-during-chase-resigns/
https://www.wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/officer-hurt-in-double-fatality-crash-during-plainfield-police-pursuit/
https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/plainfield-officer-chase-100-mph-crash-deadly-barbara-williams-bennie-joe-clayton-indianapolis-police-bryan-goodmon-sirens-fault-due-regard-report/531-c34dc92b-dcf5-4320-95c7-ae199a89a9ce
https://www.wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/impd-arrests-suspect-in-deadly-police-crash-in-plainfield/