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Tommie Jackson was hit around 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, July 26, in Stamford on Wire Mill Road by a Stamford Police SUV driven by Officer Zachary Lockwood, age 24.
At the time of the crash, Lockwood, who was responding to a call, was traveling eastbound on Wire Mill Road, police said. In this area of Wire Mill Road, there is a right curve.
At the same time, Jackson, a popular pastor at Rehoboth Fellowship Church, and local attorney, was on foot northbound, attempting to cross the roadway after retrieving mail from a mailbox.
After seeing Jackson, Lockwood made an evasive steering maneuver, entering into the westbound lane. While within the westbound lane, the SUV hit Jackson, police said.
Police said, following impact, the police SUV entered the property of 458 Wire Mill Road. As a result of the collision, Jackson sustained fatal injuries.
Jackson, whose wife, Dorye Jackson, is a Stamford police commissioner, was also the assistant director of the Stamford Urban Redevelopment Commission.
Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons said she was devastated and heartbroken by the untimely passing of Reverend Tommie Jackson.
"Reverend Jackson was a pillar in the Stamford community and led a life devoted to faith and public service, Simmons said. "He was a larger-than-life presence who was steadfast in his advocacy for social and racial justice and touched the lives of so many through his work as Pastor at Rehoboth Fellowship Church and Faith Tabernacle Church, as well as Assistant Director of the Urban Redevelopment Commission.
"Reverend Jackson’s decades of service and leadership made an indelible impact on the City of Stamford. I was honored to call him a friend and I will greatly miss his positive energy, wonderful sense of humor, and infectious smile.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Reverend Jackson’s family, especially his wife Dorye, who honorably serves our City as a Stamford Police Commissioner, and their daughters Evinn and Erin. My thoughts and prayers are also with Officer Lockwood and his family during this very difficult time.”
At the request of Stamford State’s Attorney’s Office, the State Police - Western District Major Crime Squad, in conjunction with the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad, assumed the investigative responsibility for the collision.
Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or the moments prior to the collision is asked to contact Detective Corey Clabby at corey.clabby@ct.gov or Detective Ryan Hackett at ryan.hackett@ct.gov.
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