Bridge over I-85 dedicated to fallen CMPD Officer Mia Goodwin

CHARLOTTE — A special celebration was held Friday to remember fallen Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Officer Mia Goodwin.

Goodwin was hit and killed by a tractor-trailer in December 2021 while she was assisting other officers with a crash on Interstate 85 in the University area.

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Goodwin was a mother of three and married to a Charlotte firefighter. She had just returned from maternity leave days before she was killed.

The truck driver, Daniel Morgan, pleaded guilty in January and was sentenced to 16 to 29 months in prison.

On Friday, the North Carolina Department of Transportation dedicated the W.T. Harris Boulevard bridge over I-85 in her honor.

CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said Mia Goodwin forever changed the way the department responds to traffic accidents. He said they learned to be safer when it comes to taking care of one of their own.

“I remember thinking, as a police chief, there is one call you never ever want to get and that’s to find out you’ve lost one of your own,” he said.

“Sadly, Officer Goodwin was serving others when she made the ultimate sacrifice,” retired police Sgt. Darrell Antley said.

Jennings reflected on Goodwin’s time as a CMPD officer.

“I think she was someone who loved this job and realized the dangers of it, and still loved coming to work every day,” he said.

“Every time we come to these events it’s just heart-wrenching,” said Goodwin’s father, Antonio Figueroa. “It opens up the scab.”

Figueroa said while the pain is still there, he’s glad the support is too.

“This doesn’t bring our daughter back, but we’re just very grateful to the entire community, just like I said at the funeral,” he said.

Chief Jennings went on to say the “Officer Mia Goodwin Bridge” will play a role in keeping her life and service remembered.

(WATCH PREVIOUS: Truck driver headed to prison for crash that killed CMPD Officer Mia Goodwin)

Truck driver headed to prison for crash that killed CMPD Officer Mia Goodwin

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