Metropolitan Police Department, District of Columbia
End of Watch: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Police Officer Terry Bennett succumbed to injuries he received when he was struck by the driver of a vehicle while assisting a disabled motorist on Interstate 695 in Washington, D.C., on December 23, 2025.
Around 10:10 p.m., Officer Bennett stopped in the eastbound lanes of I-695 near South Capital Street to help a motorist who had run out of gas. While standing outside his police cruiser, a speeding driver, attempting to change lanes, struck him. The disabled motorist was not injured.
Officer Bennett was immediately transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries on January 7, 2026.
The driver was unconscious after the crash and was taken to a hospital for minor injuries. He was charged with second-degree murder.
Officer Bennett had served almost eight years with the Metropolitan Police Department, D.C., assigned to the First District. He is survived by his wife and children.