Berks County police officer killed in crash while responding to call for service

A Berks County police officer was killed in a crash while responding to a call for service Friday evening, according to the Central Berks Regional Police Department.

Around 8 p.m. on Friday, May 29, NBC10 went to the scene of the crash, near Manatawny and Shoemaker roads in Earl Township, where a tow truck was seen pulling a mangled cop car out of a wooded area.

Hours later, Central Berks Police confirmed one of its police officers died in the crash. Officials identified the fallen officer as 42-year-old Kristen Yeager.

“Officer Yeager served our community with courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication. She answered the call to protect and serve each day, placing the safety of others above her own. Her commitment to her badge, her fellow officers, and the citizens she served will never be forgotten,” the department wrote in a Facebook post.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene of the crash.

SkyForce10 was over the scene on Friday night.

Several fire trucks, ambulances and tow trucks could be seen.

An investigation has found that as Yeager drove down the roadway with her sirens and emergency lights on, she veered off the road into the grass area and then into a ditch, where she hit a tree and was ejected from the police car, according to a PSP report release.

Life-saving measures on Yeager were attempted at the scene and she was taken to the hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries, the report stated.

People who knew and worked with Yeager said that she was a beloved member of the police force who was also a married mom of three.

“She was amazing. Besides being a mom of three, she always took care of the people she served,” said Rick Lombardo, the assistant chief of the Mount Penn Fire Company . “Really good with them. Always went out of her way.”

According to Lombardo, Yeager was also from a family of people who served the community.

“Her dad, who unfortunately just passed away almost two months ago, his whole life he was in the fire service. He was a fire chief at our neighboring department,” Lombardo said.

The Central Berks Police Department also released their own statement as well, saying that Yeager will always be in their thought.

“We ask that you keep Officer Yeager’s family, friends, and our entire law enforcement family in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. Rest easy, Officer Yeager. Your watch has ended, but your legacy of service and sacrifice will live on forever. We got it from here,” the Central Berks Police Department wrote.

Chief Justin Johnson of the CBPD spoke to NBC10 and reiterated that Yeager will be missed dearly.

“She will be missed. We are really grieving tremendously for her husband, three children and our officers in the community as well,” he said. “She was not only a tremendous officer, but more importantly she was a great person.”

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