- Officer William Matthews, 47, was hit and killed after stopping to pick up debris
- Beth Freeman, 54, was using her phone and on drugs when she ran him over
- She was cooperative at the scene and has been charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide
- Freeman has a criminal history of speeding, reckless driving, driving without a license and at least six convictions for drug possession
Beth Freeman, 54, hit and killed and Minnesota police officer while he was stopped to pick up debris
A Minnesota woman has been charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide after she ran over a police officer who had stopped to pick up debris.
Officer William Matthews, 47, was struck and killed on Friday by Beth Freeman, 54.
According to charges filed Monday, Freeman was on drugs and using her phone at the time of the crash. She was also driving without a license.
Freeman has a long criminal history of speeding, reckless driving, driving without a license and at least six convictions for drug possession.
Police found cocaine and other drug paraphernalia in her car.
‘What have I done?’ Freeman allegedly said after getting out of her vehicle immediately after hitting the officer, according to the Star Tribune.
Matthews was rushed to the hospital where he died.
William Matthews, 47, is pictured with his wife and seven-year-old son. Freeman was on drugs and using her phone at the time of the accident
Freeman did not currently have a driver’s license at the time of the accident because of her poor driving history. She is being held without bail.
The criminal complaint states that a law enforcement officer administered a sobriety test on Freeman 75 minutes after the crash.
It determined that ‘the influence of a controlled substance was evident. ‘Freeman had an elevated pulse, constricted pupils and difficulty counting backwards.’ The complaint did not address whether drugs had played a role in the crash.
Matthews had stopped to pick up debris on the side of the road. Freeman is being held without bail and charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide
Investigators also discovered an Instagram post that showed Freeman still at the scene saying: ‘I just looked up and he was there.’
Matthews was a nine-year veteran of the Wayzata police department. He leaves behind a wife and seven-year-old son.
Matthew’s funeral is scheduled for Thursday at 11am and his family has asked for privacy.