Officials met this morning to discuss the death of an East Spencer woman killed when she was struck by a Salisbury Police cruiser speeding to an emergency call.
District Attorney Bill Kenerly met with N.C. Highway Patrol First Sgt. V.F. Mellone, who is investigating the accident, and a Highway Patrol accident reconstructionist to hash out the details of the accident early Saturday morning that claimed the life of Beverly Ann Fisher, 38, of 308 S. Boundary St.
Kenerly said he would make a decision on charges after reviewing the case reports and in-car videotapes of the accident. Fisher’s body has been sent to Chapel Hill for an autopsy.
According to Mellone’s report, Fisher ran into the northbound lane of Long Street about 3:25 a.m. and was struck by Sgt. Mike Dummett. Dummett and other officers were responding to an emergency call from East Spencer Police Officer Vince Kotarsky.
Kotarsky was in the parking lot of an East Spencer night club, JR’s Night Hawk, shortly after closing time when he said a fight broke out between two men. When they continued to fight, he pepper-sprayed the crowd around the two men. The crowd then became violent, and Kotarsky said someone hit him from behind. He then heard gunshots, crouched down and hit a panic button on his radio.
Officers from Spencer, Granite Quarry, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department and Salisbury headed up Long Street toward JR’s. About a block away, near the entrance to Shady Grove Baptist Church, Fisher ran into the northbound lane and was struck by Dummett’s patrol car. The impact flipped her up, and she landed on the backside of the cruiser. Mellone’s report indicates Dummett was traveling 67 mph when he hit Fisher. His blue lights and siren were activated. Dummett skidded 98 feet before hitting Fisher and 98 feet before coming to a stop.
Officials said it looked like Fisher was trying to flag down the officers, but it is still unclear why.
A videotape from a Granite Quarry police car driving just ahead of Dummett showed that Fisher also stepped in front of that cruiser, Mellone said.
At the accident scene, Dummett showed concern and compassion but still was in charge, Salisbury Police Chief Chris Herring said. “He is an experienced officer who is accustomed to stressful situations.”
Dummett joined the force in 1992 and was promoted to sergeant about a year ago. Dummett is on administrative paid leave, and Herring said he is not sure when he will return.
Salisbury Police’s Internal Affairs Department will conduct its own investigation “based on, but separate from” Mellone’s report, Herring said.
Salisbury Police chaplains have offered their services to Fisher’s family, which has endured much tragedy recently.
Fisher’s sister, 37-year-old Edith Lucille Bryant, died in an apartment fire at Lakewood Apartments on Jan. 10, 2000. Police continue to investigate the case as a homicide, said Salisbury Deputy Chief Mark Wilhelm. No arrests have been made in the case.
“She missed her sister,” said Fisher’s husband, Bobby. “She always said it was strange how it happened.”
Bobby Fisher, solemn and busy Monday dealing with his wife’s death, offered a simple few words:
“She was a sweet person, she was just a lot of fun to be around.”
Reach Jonathan Weaver at 704-797-4266 or jweaver@salisburypost.com
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