BERKS CO., Pa. – A Berks County police officer died during a car crash while responding to a call Friday night.
Central Berks Police say Officer Kristen Yeager’s car crashed just before 8 p.m. near the intersection of Manatawny and Shoemaker Roads in Earl Township.
Yeager was responding to an emergency assist request from a neighboring police department.
Investigators say her patrol car left the roadway, entered a ditch, and struck a tree.
EMS crews from Oley, Boyertown, and Earl Township were sent to the crash site.
West Philadelphia Avenue and surrounding roadways were closed for approximately 4 hours as emergency crews operated on the scene.
In a statement from the Earl Township Fire Company, officials thanked all responding mutual aid agencies and their first responders for their assistance.
West Philadelphia Avenue was reopened to traffic just after midnight.
Flowers now line the roadside between Manatawny Road and Shoemaker Road, marking the spot where Yeager was killed.
On Saturday, community members stopped by the crash site to pay their respects and leave flowers in Officer Yeager’s memory.
“It’s hard when you see something like that and you know what happened. It’s hard to swallow,” said Cheryl Summerfelt, who visited the memorial.
In addition to flowers being placed at the crash site, a police cruiser outside the Central Berks Regional Police Department has been transformed into a tribute to Officer Yeager. The vehicle is covered with flowers and other memorial items, with a photograph of the fallen officer displayed at its center.
A homeowner who lives near the crash site said he was outside with neighbors when he heard a police siren followed by a loud thud. Believing a vehicle had gone into the ditch, neighbors immediately called 911.
“All the colleagues that have to go on without her, her husband. My heart goes out to all of them,” Summerfelt said.
Yeager leaves behind her husband and three children.
In the wake of the incident, the Police department is holding a ‘meal train’ to support co-workers. Donations can be dropped off at the Central Berks Police station lobby Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m..
There’s no word on what led to the crash which is still under investigation by Pennsylvania State Police.
Officer Yeager was a two-and-a-half-year veteran of the Central Berks Police Department. According to a post on the Central Berks Police Facebook page, Officer Yeager “served the citizens of our community with courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Throughout her career, she exemplified the highest standards of law enforcement, selflessly answering the call to protect and serve while placing the safety and well-being of others above her own.”
Governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro has ordered flags to half staff in honor of Officer Yeager.
In a statement from the Governor’s office, Shapiro expressed his sympathy saying, “Lori and I are praying for the family of Central Berks Regional Police Officer Kristen Yeager, who died in the line of duty last night. The women and men who wear the uniform put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe and we owe them our deepest gratitude. Our hearts are with her loved ones and the entire Central Berks Regional Police family as they recover from this tragedy.”
The Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge president Joseph Regan issued the following statement regarding Officer Yeager’s passing:
“On behalf of Pennsylvania’s law enforcement community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Officer Yeager’s family, friends, fellow officers and the entire Central Berks Regional Police Department. The loss of a police officer is felt far beyond the boundaries of one department or one community. It’s felt by every officer who took an oath to protect and serve despite the inherent the risks they face every day.
“Officer Yeager’s watch has ended, but her service, dedication and sacrifice will never be forgotten. May she rest in peace and may her family and brothers and sisters in blue find strength and comfort in the days ahead.”