Louisville, Ky. — A Louisville Metro Police officer involved in a fatal crash last week did not have her lights and sirens activated at the time of the collision, according to Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) Chief Paul Humphrey.
The incident occurred on March 29, 2025, when Officer Begel’s cruiser collided with a black Cadillac driven by 61-year-old Charles Briscoe on Fern Valley Road near Newburg. Briscoe was pronounced dead at the scene.
Initial reports following the crash indicated that Officer Begel had been driving at an extremely high speed, and a witness claimed that her vehicle lacked both lights and sirens. When asked about the witness’s claims, a spokesperson for LMPD initially referred to the department’s critical incident policy and did not provide a direct response.
However, on Wednesday, April 3, 2025, Chief Humphrey confirmed in an interview with local news outlet WDRB that Officer Begel did, in fact, fail to activate her lights and sirens prior to the crash. The chief’s statement marked the first official acknowledgment of the circumstances surrounding the crash.
After WDRB’s follow-up inquiry, a spokesperson for the department issued a statement confirming the chief’s comments. The department also noted that the incident is being treated as a “critical incident” under its protocol for situations involving fatal outcomes, similar to the procedures followed in police shootings.
As part of this protocol, body camera and dash camera footage from the incident will be made public within 10 business days, providing the public with transparency into the events leading up to the crash. LMPD has promised a “significant update” to the media on Thursday, though specifics about the update have not been disclosed.
Officer Begel, who was hired in October 2022, has a record that includes 22 commendations and three reprimands for discipline, according to her personnel file. Notably, she was found to be “at fault” in a car accident in October 2023 and received a verbal reprimand for the incident in April 2024.
Following the crash, Officer Begel was hospitalized but was released on Friday, April 4, 2025.
The LMPD’s investigation into the fatal crash remains ongoing, with further updates expected as more information becomes available.
