TAMPA, Florida. – The Tampa Police Department laments the loss of one of its officers, who was killed Tuesday morning in a crash on I-275.
Police Chief Brian Dugan says Officer Jesse Madsen, 45, died after answering a call from a wrong driver shortly after 1 p.m.
The accident occurred on the northbound lanes of the interstate between Sligh and Hillsborough avenues. Tampa police said callers reported that the driver of the wrong road was speeding and detouring in and out of the lanes.
Dugan said the driver of the wrong road was a 25-year-old white man who has not been identified at this time. He also died in the crash, according to police.
Madsen was a TPD officer for 16 and a half years. Dugan said he was the father of three children, a dedicated husband and a U.S. sailor.
According to Dugan, Madsen won the Tampa Police Department’s life-saving award seven times. He is the 32nd TPD officer killed during the year.
“This is a tragedy,” Dugan said. “Our community has been shaken by these wrong drivers and it is a complete tragedy that now a husband and father of four have disappeared.”
Tampa police later confirmed that Madsen was the father of three, not four.
A procession of TPD agents could be seen early Tuesday escorting an ambulance from the crash site.
Ryan French
“It hurts me to say that for the third time this year, our Tampa Bay police community has lost one of ours in the line of duty. This morning, Tampa police officer Jesse Madsen died in an accident. We are all praying and we will be by your side @TampaPD “.
Currently, I-275 is closed in both directions while traffic homicide detectives are being investigated. Dugan said the road will remain closed for several hours.
This story breaks down. Stay tuned to ABC Action News for updates.