A beloved pastor tragically died on Wednesday after being struck by a police vehicle near his home in Stamford, Connecticut. In addition to serving as pastor of Rehoboth Fellowship Church in Stamford, Rev. Tommie Jackson, 69, was well known in the community as an urban planner and a fixture in city politics.
Jackson, the husband of a Stamford police commissioner, was reportedly retrieving his mail in front of his home on a narrow road with no sidewalks while 24-year-old Officer Zachary Lockwood was responding to a call and traveling on that same road. When Lockwood came around a curve in the road and saw Jackson crossing the street, he reportedly attempted to make an evasive maneuver to avoid Jakson but still fatally struck him.
“The pedestrian was rushed to Stamford Hospital where life saving measures were unsuccessful,” the Stamford Police Department said in a statement. “The investigation is being handled by the Connecticut State Police. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the deceased.”
The speed at which Lockwood was traveling and whether he was flashing the vehicle’s lights and siren is currently unknown.
Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons said she was devastated by Jackson’s death.
“Reverend Jackson was a pillar in the Stamford community and led a life devoted to faith and public service,” Simmons told Daily Voice. “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.”
“Reverend Jackson’s decades of service and leadership made an indelible impact on the City of Stamford,” Simmons continued. “I was honored to call him a friend, and I will greatly miss his positive energy, wonderful sense of humor, and infectious smile.”
Rich Lyons, a longtime friend of Jackson’s, said that he had spoken with the pastor throughout the day of his death via phone calls and text messages. Lyons said the last text he received from Jackson was at 4:05 p.m. According to police, Jackson was struck by the police vehicle at 4:10 p.m.
“Tommie was trying to help one of his parishioners who had a tree go through the roof of his house. I was helping him put people in place to try to keep repair costs down for the parishioner,” Lyons told CT Examiner. “I must have talked to him just before this happened. It’s such a shock.”
RELATED: ‘He Saved My Life’—Boy Helps Pastor out of Car in Flooded Indianapolis Street
Lyons described Jackson as a good friend who cared for his community.
