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Who is Daniel Morgan, the truck driver charged in crash that killed CMPD officer?

Daniel Morgan (CMPD)

CHARLOTTE — A truck driver has been charged after a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer was killed and three other officers were hurt during a crash investigation early Wednesday on Interstate 85 in north Charlotte.

The collision, which involved two semi-trucks and four CMPD cars, happened around 3:40 a.m. in the southbound lanes near Exit 45, at W.T. Harris Boulevard.

CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said Officer Mia Goodwin, 33, died in the crash. He asked for the community’s thoughts and prayers.

“Rest easy hero, we have watch from here,” the chief said.

Goodwin served the University City Division and was a mother to three young children and the wife to a Charlotte firefighter.

On Thursday, CMPD said they had charged one of the truck drivers, 50-year-old Daniel Leon Morgan, for his involvement in the deadly crash. Morgan was charged with involuntary manslaughter, misdemeanor death by vehicle, failure to reduce speed, and felony failure to move over for stopped emergency vehicles.

According to investigators, Morgan was driving a 2020 Volvo VNL and failed to move left to a single lane that was open on I-85. Police said Morgan did not reduce his speed and collided with four CMPD vehicles, another semi-truck and Officer Goodwin.

Morgan was screened for impairment but police said he was not impaired. He was also cited for displaying a fictitious registration plate knowing the same to be fictitious, police said.

Police did not say if anyone else will be charged in connection to the crash.

Morgan’s attorney released a statement on his behalf offering condolences to the friends and family of Officer Mia Goodwin.

“My family and I extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, colleagues, loved ones and all those whose lives were made better through Officer Goodwin’s public service,” the statement read. “I can’t begin to imagine the [devastating] impact that this tragic accident will have on her husband and three young children. There are no words that can express the extent of my sorrow.  My family and I will continue our prayers for the Goodwin family.”

(WATCH BELOW: Who was Mia Goodwin, the CMPD officer who died in I-85 crash?)


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