What began as a routine roadside assistance call on a dark stretch of highway just days before Christmas ended in devastating loss for Washington, D.C.
Officer Terry Bennett, a 32-year-old Metropolitan Police officer, died Wednesday after spending 18 days in critical condition as a result of a high-speed roadside crash while he was helping a stranded motorist on Interstate 695.
The crash happened around 10:10 p.m. on December 23 in the eastbound lanes near South Capitol Street. Bennett had exited his patrol cruiser to assist a driver whose car had broken down when he was struck by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed.
He never regained consciousness.
A Routine Call Turns Catastrophic
Authorities say Bennett was standing on foot outside his marked cruiser when the impact occurred. Emergency responders rushed him to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where he remained in a coma for 18 days.
The stranded motorist was not injured.
The driver who struck Bennett initially remained at the scene and was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. At the time, officials said the crash was under investigation and no charges had been filed.
That changed after Bennett was taken off life support.
Murder Charge Filed as New Details Emerge
On Friday, prosecutors announced that Jerrold Coates, 47, had been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Bennett’s death.
According to District officials, Coates is suspected of being under the influence of both drugs and alcohol at the time of the crash. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Coates smelled of alcohol at the scene and had to be revived with Narcan.
Preliminary toxicology reports indicate Coates may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Prosecutors confirmed that the murder charge was filed shortly after Bennett was taken off life support.
Coates, an employee of the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, is expected to make his first court appearance this weekend.
A Son of Southeast D.C.
Bennett was born and raised in Washington and graduated from Ballou High School before attending Bucknell University. He joined the Metropolitan Police Department in 2018 and was assigned to the First District.
But long before he wore a badge, Bennett was already serving his community.
He had previously worked as an assistant dean at Ballou and later returned as an assistant football coach and defensive coordinator. To students, he was more than “Coach Terry.” He was a mentor, a steady presence, and a role model who showed them what was possible.
“He was a father figure. A hero,” Ballou head coach Kenny Brown said. “He proved that a kid from Southeast could go anywhere.”
“Doing What He Was Known to Do”
As news of Officer Terry Bennett’s death spread, city leaders and fellow officers reflected on a man remembered for quiet service and unwavering care for others.
Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll called Bennett a “model officer,” while Mayor Muriel Bowser said he died “doing what he was known to do, helping and caring for the people around him,” noting that he was “a father, a husband, and a beloved member of our community.” Bennett is survived by his wife and young son.
That loss was felt visibly across Washington on Thursday, as hundreds of law enforcement officers lined the streets while Bennett’s body was escorted from the hospital to the medical examiner’s office. Motorcycles and cruisers rolled past in silence, officers stood at attention, and a helicopter hovered overhead, a solemn tribute that underscored the ultimate cost of a simple decision to stop and help.
Bennett is the 12th D.C. police officer to die in the line of duty since 2004, a legacy that those who knew him say will endure far beyond the highway where his life was cut short.
