WASHINGTON, DC – A drunk driver accused of fatally striking Metropolitan Police Officer Terry Bennett while he was assisting a stranded motorist on I-695 has been charged with second-degree murder while armed after police say he laughed moments after being taken into custody.
Key Points
- Officer Terry Bennett, 32, died 15 days after being struck while helping a driver on I-695.
- Suspect Jerrold Coates allegedly had a blood alcohol level of 0.16 and marijuana in his system.
- Coates has been charged with second-degree murder while armed and remains in custody.
Officer killed while helping stranded motorist
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Officer Bennett was struck around 10:10 p.m. on December 23, 2025, while assisting a driver who had run out of gas on eastbound I-695 near South Capitol Street. Investigators said 33-year-old Jerrold Coates was driving at a high rate of speed when he hit Bennett, throwing the officer more than 20 feet.
🚨NEW: DUI driver who hit and killed a D.C police officer laughs moments after being arrestedJerrold Coates has been charged with second-degree murder while armedTerry Bennett, 32, died more than two weeks after being struck while assisting a driver on I-695Bennett was… pic.twitter.com/oR2od8NdVr
— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) February 24, 2026
Bennett was rushed to a local hospital where he remained in critical condition for more than two weeks before succumbing to his injuries on January 7, 2026…