Phoenix police officer dies after being struck by a vehicle

Phoenix Police Officer Paul Rutherford died Thursday, March 21, 2019, after being struck by a vehicle while he was investigating an accident scene in Phoenix. (Phoenix PD Facebook screenshot)

Phoenix Police Officer Paul Rutherford died Thursday, March 21, 2019, after being struck by a vehicle while he was investigating an accident scene in Phoenix. (Phoenix PD Facebook screenshot)

PHOENIX — A Phoenix police officer died Thursday after being struck by a vehicle while he was investigating an accident scene, authorities said.

Officer Paul Rutherford was struck while on the roadway and died after being transported to a hospital in extremely critical condition, said Sgt. Tommy Thompson, a police spokesman.

He said the driver of the vehicle that struck Rutherford remained at the scene and police were investigating.

Police Chief Jeri Williams said Phoenix "has a reason to mourn because once again one of our officers was killed in the line of duty."

Rutherford, 51, had been a policeman for nearly 23 years. He was married and had two adult children.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered flags at all state buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Friday to honor Rutherford.

Ducey's office said the governor also will order flags to be lowered on the day of Rutherford's funeral, which hasn't been set yet.

In a statement, Ducey said Rutherford's death "provides yet another example of the dangers faced by law enforcement every day to keep us and our communities safe."


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