Although we think of police officers getting shot when we think of officer deaths, there other, more mundane ways to die as well. Deputy VanMeter had just finished his shift and was riding in a patrol car with another deputy who was transporting VanMeter to his personal vehicle a few blocks away. Without any warning, a pickup turned across two lanes of traffic and directly in front of the police vehicle. The patrol car T-boned the pickup and was demolished. VanMeter was killed in the crash. Deputy Josh Waldrop, driving the police car, was left in critical condition, as were the two occupants of the pickup.
Deputy VanMeter had fulfilled his life's dream of becoming a deputy sheriff, and was serving in the county in which he was raised. Many people, both police officers and "civilians" were touched by the loss of this young deputy in a such a senseless accident. Toxicology results are not back yet, but the young man driving the pickup will likely be charged with vehicular homicide in this incident. I am sure the driver did not leave his home with the thought that "tonight I will do something stupid and kill a man." But I have no doubt that the driver did not consider his action in any way. The result is that a man, a peace officer, lost his life, another deputy was badly injured, and both the young men in the pickup were terribly injured as well.
My thanks and my honor are extended to Deputy Charles Allen VanMeter. My sympathy goes out to his parents and his girlfriend. And the thin blue line is just a little thinner tonight.
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