Police chief: 1 officer killed, 2nd injured during chase crash
A Springdale police officer was killed and another injured when a suspect involved in a traffic pursuit crashed into police cruisers on Interstate 275 near Ohio 4 Saturday night, police said.
The fallen officer is Kaia Grant an eight-year veteran of the Springdale department who was born and raised in Wyoming, Ohio. She was 33. The 2005 Wyoming High School graduate is the first Springdale officer killed in the line of duty, police said.
Police identified the suspect as Terry Blankenship.
Springdale police said the pursuit started from a traffic stop by Elmwood Place police — Blankenship had a felony warrant out of Blanchester.
Blankenship fled officers on I-75 north at Paddock Road before getting on I-275 west. Springdale police were attempting to deploy stop sticks as he approached; that’s when police believe the suspect intentionally rammed the police cruisers which then hit the officers. The officers were outside of their cruisers when the crash happened.
Grant was airlifted to UC Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Her body was taken to the coroner’s office in a procession of police cars around midnight.
Grant is the 10th area officer to die in the line of duty since 2000, according to the Greater CincinnatiPoliceMuseumwebsite, which posts a record of 205 local, state and federal officers who have fallen since 1845.
Grant is the first female police officer ever killed in the Greater Cincinnati outside of jail duty. Two other women — both jail matrons — were killed on the job more than 100 years ago, Rosa A. Regan in 1908 and Anna M. Hart in 1916.
Police said they recovered a firearm from the crash scene.
Blanchester Criminal Investigation and Hamilton County Prosecutor are investigating the incident.
Blankenship is currently in the hospital with pending charges.
“This is a deep tragedy for our city and our police officers and for Kaia’s family, and I ask you to keep us in your thoughts andprayers,”Springdalepolice Chief Thomas Wells said.
“I’m very sad, needless to say, that we lost an officer,” Springdale Mayor Doyle Webster said, “but I’m sad that I never said to this officer, ‘Thank you for your service.’
“I swore her in nine years ago,”headded.“Alovelyyoung lady ... great career ... great family. It’s just an absolute tragedy, and a senseless one at that.”
Gov. Mike DeWine ordered flags flown at half-staff at all public buildings in Hamilton County in honor of Grant.