TAMPA, Fla. The Tampa Police Department mourns the loss of one of their officers who died early Tuesday morning in a mishap on I-275.
Police Chief Brian Dugan says officer Jesse Madsen, 45, died after responding to a wrong driver’s call just after 1 p.m.
The crash occurred on the northern lanes of the interstate between Sligh and Hillsborough Avenues. Tampa police say callers reported the wrong driver driving in and out of the lane quickly.
Dugan said the wrong driver was a 25-year-old white man who has not yet been identified. He also died in the crash, police said.
Madsen was an officer at TPD for 16 and a half years. Dugan said he was a father of four, a devoted man and a U.S. Marine.
According to Dugan, Madsen was a seven-time winner of the Tampa Police Life Saving Award. He is the 32nd TPD officer killed in the line of duty.
“It’s a tragedy,” Dugan said. “Our community has been shocked by these wrong drivers, and it’s just a complete tragedy that a man and a father of four are gone now.”
A procession of TPD officers can be seen early Tuesday escorting an ambulance from the crash scene.
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I-275 is currently closed in both directions while traffic murder detectives investigate. Dugan said the lane would be closed for several hours.
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