Holly MatkinMonroe County, IN – Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Reserve Deputy James Driver died in the line of duty last Monday while responding to a motor vehicle crash involving injuries.
The fatal collision occurred on State Road 45 southwest of Bloomington as Reserve Deputy Driver was on his way to a report of a crash at approximately 4 p.m., WLKY reported.
The 38-year-old reserve deputy had the emergency lights and sirens on his Dodge Charger patrol vehicle activated at the time, according to police.
Indiana State Police (ISP) said 22-year-old Christopher Derr lost control of his GMC pickup and trailer and slammed into the patrol vehicle, causing Reserve Deputy Driver’s cruiser to roll off of the roadway, WTHR reported.
Although the reserve deputy was wearing his seatbelt, the force of the crash ejected him from the car.
He was rushed to IU Health Bloomington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Derr did not suffer any injuries in the collision, WTHR reported.
He voluntarily submitted to toxicology testing, and those results are pending, according to police.
The investigation into the fatal collision remains ongoing.
Reserve Deputy Driver, a native of the United Kingdom, began serving the MCSO in June of 2018 and worked as an unpaid volunteer, WTHR reported.
He was working to become a U.S. citizen at the time of his death.
“He represented us in such a great light,” Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swain told the news outlet. “It’s certainly created a void that is going to be hard to fill.”
Sheriff Swain said Reserve Deputy Driver was a “very well-liked” member of the department.
“Everybody is hurting,” he told WTHR.
“He just had a great servant’s heart,” the sheriff continued. “You know, when you’re a reserve deputy or volunteer firefighter, it’s the uniform and the job you do. It doesn’t matter if you don’t get paid. The risks don’t change. He stayed with us during one of the most challenging times in American law enforcement and was still proud to do the job and wear the uniform.”
Reserve Deputy Driver leaves behind his wife, Anna, as well as his four-year-old daughter and his two teenage stepsons, WTHR reported.
He will be buried with full police honors, Sheriff Swain said.
Reserve Deputy Sheriff James Driver was killed in a vehicle crash near the intersection of West State Road 45 and West Eller Road while responding to an accident with injury. Age 38
He is survived by his wife, daughter, and two stepchildren. Rest In Peace Reserve Deputy James D. pic.twitter.com/dwsNvmMT9f
— Edgar S. (@BPDReuben) March 31, 2021
.@CBP offers our deepest condolences to the Monroe County (IN) Sheriff's Office (@SheriffMonroeCo) on the tragic loss of Reserve Deputy Sheriff James Driver. Thank you, Deputy Driver, for your service. #LODD #EOW pic.twitter.com/4aMVr72SoP
— CBP Chicago (@CBPChicago) March 31, 2021
GLFOP: 🔹 Blessed Are The Peacemakers 🔹
Reserve Deputy Sheriff James Driver
Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Indiana
EOW: Monday, March 29, 2021#EnoughIsEnough #OfficerDown #EOW #ThinBlueLine pic.twitter.com/i8VOSvG4WX
— SCFOP Lodge #31 (@scfop_31) March 31, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy James Driver, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
