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Barbara Williams

Age : 78

Gender : Female

Race : White

Date : 08/30/2024

Location : U.S. 40 and Smith Road

City : Plainfield

County : Hendricks

State : Indiana

Agency : Plainfield Police Department

Officer(s) :Bryan Goodmon

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : 2Bystander killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/30/2024, Bennie Joe Williams, 78, and his wife, Barbara Williams, 79, were killed when Plainfield Police Officer Bryan Goodmon crashed his police vehicle into their Honda while pursuing another driver at U.S. 40 and Smith Road near Clayton. The Williamses were uninvolved bystanders. Goodmon was traveling at approximately 100 mph immediately before the collision.
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The pursuit began after Plainfield police attempted to stop a Ford Mustang driven by 19-year-old Kyle Michael Conder. Police specifically alleged that Conder had been driving recklessly and speeding on U.S. 40. Conder continued driving away while police pursued him westbound out of Plainfield.
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Goodmon joined the pursuit as the second police vehicle. Investigative records later showed that he accelerated to approximately 100 mph while traveling westbound on U.S. 40. Goodmon's emergency lights were activated, but investigators determined that his siren was not continuously activated as required during the pursuit.
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At U.S. 40 and Smith Road, Bennie Williams was driving the couple's Honda south across the highway. Goodmon's police vehicle struck the Honda at high speed. The impact killed Bennie and Barbara Williams. Goodmon suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized.
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Indiana State Police reconstructed the collision and determined that Goodmon was traveling approximately 100 mph immediately before impact. Investigators concluded that his speed and failure to continuously operate his siren contributed to the fatal crash. State police found that Goodmon failed to exercise the "due regard" required of an emergency-vehicle driver.
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The investigation also found that Goodmon violated Plainfield Police Department pursuit policy. Department policy required officers to continually evaluate whether the need to apprehend a fleeing driver outweighed the danger created by continuing a pursuit. Goodmon was placed on administrative leave following the crash.
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Plainfield police subsequently initiated an internal investigation. Goodmon resigned from the Plainfield Police Department in January 2025 while the disciplinary process arising from the fatal crash was underway.
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Conder was arrested approximately two months after the crash. Prosecutors charged him with resisting law enforcement causing death and other offenses arising from the pursuit.
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Bennie and Barbara Williams had been married for 57 years. Their family described them as inseparable and said they were returning home after having dinner when Goodmon crashed into them. Bennie had retired from Allison Transmission after more than 30 years of employment. The couple left behind two children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND
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Bryan Goodmon was the Plainfield Police Department officer whose police vehicle struck and killed Bennie and Barbara Williams. Indiana State Police concluded that Goodmon was traveling approximately 100 mph before the collision, failed to continuously operate his siren and failed to exercise due regard for other motorists.
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Plainfield police determined that Goodmon violated department pursuit policy. He resigned from the department in January 2025 while facing disciplinary proceedings related to the fatal crash.

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/
https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/crime/plainfield-police-officer-resigns-after-deadly-crash-during-pursuit
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/bennie-williams-obituary?id=56231028