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

CHARLOTTE — The tractor-trailer driver who was charged in the death of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Mia Goodwin is headed to prison after pleading guilty to all of his charges Thursday.

Channel 9′s Hannah Goetz was in court as Daniel Morgan agreed to plead to the following charges:

• Involuntary manslaughter
• Failure to move over
• Three counts of assault with a deadly weapon
• Reckless driving
• Fictitious tags

The judge consolidated all the charges to involuntary manslaughter, and Morgan was sentenced to 16 to 29 months in prison.

“We brought resolution to a case that was an incredibly tragic accident where there were no winners,” said Harold Cogdell, Morgan’s attorney. “Everyone has lost here.”

Court documents show Morgan was speeding on Interstate 85 near W.T. Harris Boulevard on the morning of Dec. 22, 2021. Police had blocked off part of I-85 for troopers to investigate a crash from the night before. Investigators said Morgan didn’t slow down or move over, and his tractor-trailer collided with another before crashing into Goodwin and three other CMPD officers.

The impact killed Goodwin, a mother of three who had recently returned to the job from maternity leave. She was an officer at CMPD’s University Division and was married to a Charlotte Fire firefighter.

Court documents said Morgan tried to walk away from the scene and remove a tracking device from the truck to hinder the investigation. He’s also accused of placing a fake tag on the trailer.

Channel 9’s Hannah Goetz was in the courtroom as families on both sides of the case reflected on the tragedy. Though it’s been just over a year since Goodwin’s death, time has not healed the pain her family still feels. That raw emotion was on full display in the courtroom Thursday.

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When Goodwin’s parents spoke in court, Goetz could hear the heartbreak in their voices. Her father was hysterical as he talked about holidays and birthdays that she has missed. He described her as tenacious, smart and beautiful, and said “she was taught from an early age to serve.”

He said Mia’s three children still ask for her, and that he has never cried so hard.

Also there Thursday was a sea of blue and gray -- support from many officers, including CMPD officers -- and Chief Johnny Jennings.

“This is something that was very difficult for our police agency and very difficult times for us,” Jennings said. “But this is another closure to that. I do respect that decision by the district attorney’s office.”

An attorney who represents the Goodwins spoke to Goetz on behalf of the family.

“Nothing’s going to bring Mia back home to her three kids, her husband. And the wounds are still very raw, the pain is very deep,” attorney Allen Brotherton said. “They just want everyone to know they really appreciate the hard work of Mia’s colleagues on this case and really appreciate the support and the show of love from the community and her colleagues.”

When it was Morgan’s turn to speak in court, he turned to the Goodwin family and to officers and repeatedly said, “I am so sorry. I am deeply sorry” while trying to hold back tears.

“Mr. Morgan has conveyed his deepest sympathies. He is very remorseful, he is sincerely remorseful for the loss of human life and the officers that were injured as well,” Morgan’s attorney said.

The judge encouraged everyone there to live out Mia Goodwin’s legacy. Cogdell told Goetz that is something Daniel Morgan plans to do after serving his time.

(WATCH BELOW: Procession held on 1-year mark of CMPD Officer Mia Goodwin’s death)

Procession held on 1-year mark of CMPD Officer Mia Goodwin’s death

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