Montgomery, AL – Montgomery Police Department (MPD) Officer Carlos Taylor died in the line of duty on June 30 due to injuries he suffered in a line-of-duty crash while rushing to help fellow officers in 2017.

The rookie officer was responding to a call for help from fellow officers who were chasing two suspects armed with a gun when the collision occurred on Feb. 17, 2017, WSFA reported.

Officer Taylor was traveling southbound on Woodley Road in an unmarked 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix that was not equipped with any emergency equipment, according to investigators.

A witness reported having seen the unmarked unit speeding into the intersection of Woodley Road and Spring Valley Road just before Officer Taylor attempted to pass a 2000 Chrysler sedan that was traveling through the intersection, WSFA reported.

He spotted an oncoming vehicle at the last second and slammed on the brakes, causing him to lose control, cross over a turning lane, and crash into the front driver’s side of the Chrysler.

Officer Taylor suffered a traumatic injury to his brain stem as a result of the collision, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.

His injury caused him to be quadriplegic and unable to communicate verbally, resulting in him needing constant care for the rest of his life.

The 29-year-old officer succumbed to his injuries on June 30, just 10 days after his birthday, WSFA reported.

His exact cause of death was not immediately released.

“The Montgomery Police Department is saddened by the sudden loss of one of our own, Officer Carlos E. Taylor,” MPD Chief Darryl Albert said in a press release later that day.

“We certainly appreciate the dedication and commitment Officer Taylor provided to the community he served and to his fellow partners in law enforcement,” Chief Albert wrote. “Officer Taylor will forever be remembered and will always be part of the Montgomery Police Department family.”

Officer Taylor graduated from the police academy in 2016 and was elected president of his academy class, the Montgomery Advertiser reported.

Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey’s office named Officer Taylor Officer of the Month in October of 2019, according to WSFA.

Bailey also named the young officer as an honorary deputy district attorney.

The community honored him with a parade and donated a truckload of items to him and his family in 2020, WSFA reported.

Stivers Automotive Group President Eddie Stivers gave Officer Taylor’s family a 2020 Chrysler Pacifica that fall, and his family used $30,000 in donations given to them by the community to outfit the vehicle so they could travel with the injured hero, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.

“Young men like him are an example,” Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed told the paper earlier that year. “He is a positive example of this community, guys who grew up here and wanted to serve and were injured in the line of duty. We want to make sure the people know we’re not going to leave them behind. We’re committed to doing that and we’re going to make sure we’re going to reach that goal.”

Officer Taylor will be laid to rest on July 10, according to his obituary.

MFR mourns the death of Montgomery Police Department Officer Carlos Taylor.
Our hearts break for Officer Taylor’s family and his Montgomery Police Department family as well. Please know that you are in our prayers and our hearts are with you in this time of grief. pic.twitter.com/DETpvlJDEh

— MontgomeryFireRescue (@MFR1898) June 30, 2023

RIP. Alabama Police Officer Carlos Taylor succumbed to his injuries sustained in a vehicle accident on 2/17/2017 while responding to an officer needs assistance call. #rip #hero #PoliceOfficerCarlosTaylor #eow #MontgomeryPoliceDepartment #thinblueline #BlueLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/i4yxLOYzAI

— Protecting the Blue (@protectingblue) July 6, 2023

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of @mpdmontgomery Police Officer Carlos Taylor who died as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in 2017. May God grant him eternal rest. #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/HKm5Dtd1w2

— NYPD Chaplains Unit (@NYPDchaplains) July 4, 2023

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Montgomery Police Department Officer Carlos Taylor, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.

Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.