Holly MatkinNelsonville, OH – Nelsonville Police Department (NPD) Officer Scott Dawley died in the line of duty in a car crash on Tuesday afternoon while responding to a report of shots fired.
The 43-year-old officer had his lights and sirens activated as he and other officers raced down Canal Street at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 3, WCMH reported.
When Officer Dawley reached the intersection with Rocky Boots Way, his patrol car collided with a box truck, leaving him gravely injured, police said.
A third vehicle was also involved in the collision, according to The Athens News.
The driver of one of the vehicles suffered non-life threatening injuries, and the other driver was airlifted to Columbus.
First responders performed CPR on Officer Dawley before he was rushed to Ohio Health O’Bleness Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, The Athens News reported.
“This is a tragic event and I can’t even begin to express how sorry I am for Scott Dawley and his family,” Nelsonville Police Chief Scott Fitch told the paper. “I would like the community to be respectful to the Dawley family and allow them to have privacy in this tragic time — and keep the Nelsonville police officers, especially officer Dawley, in their thoughts and prayers.”
The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s crash investigation team is handling the ongoing investigation into the fatal three-vehicle collision, The Athens News reported.
Nelsonville City Manager Scott Frank said Officer Dawley was the third highest-ranking officer at the NPD, WCMH reported.
He served the department for seven years.
“A selfless guy is the best way I would describe Officer Dawley,” Frank told WCMH.
Officer Dawley leaves behind his wife and seven children, the NPD said in a Facebook post.
“Tonight, he would have been at the park with his son for football practice, and unfortunately, that’s not the case,” Frank told WCMH.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has ordered flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of Officer Dawley.
We join others in sending our condolences to the family, friends and community of Nelsonville Officer Scott Dawley. He was killed in a crash responding to a call of shots fired. Thank you for your service. pic.twitter.com/FK9uwHXYMK
— Hilliard Ohio Police (@Hilliard_Police) August 4, 2021
In honor of Nelsonville Police Officer Scott Dawley, the flags shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Athens County, the Ohio Statehouse, Riffe Center and Rhodes Tower today, and will remain until sunset on the day of his funeral. pic.twitter.com/dGeRyCInbG
— Ohio Statehouse (@OhioStatehouse) August 3, 2021
This is where the three-vehicle crash happened in Nelsonville that claimed the life of Officer Scott Dawley. pic.twitter.com/uCNpB3oZM9
— Lacey Crisp (@LaceyCrisp) August 3, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Nelsonville Police Department (NPD) Officer Scott Dawley, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
