Pa. Police Officer Killed in Cruiser Crash While Responding to Call
What to know
- A Central Berks Regional police officer was killed Friday after her cruiser crashed while responding to a call in Earl Township.
- Officer Kristen Yeager, 42, was driving with emergency lights and sirens activated when her vehicle left the roadway, struck a tree and she was ejected, according to state police.
- Yeager was taken to a hospital but died from her injuries; the department remembered her for her dedication, courage and service to the community.
A Central Berks Regional Police officer was killed Friday when her cruiser crashed while she was responding to a call, the department announced Saturday morning.
Officer Kristen Yeager, 42, of Boyertown, was driving eastbound on Route 73 at 7:50 p.m. when her vehicle hit a tree near the intersection with Manatawny Road in Earl Township, according to state police, who are investigating the crash.
“Today, our department mourns the heartbreaking loss of Officer Kristen Yeager, who made the ultimate sacrifice while responding to a call for service on May 29, 2026,” Central Berks police said in a statement posted on social media.
State police gave this account:
Yeager was responding to a call with the cruiser’s emergency lights and sirens activated. The car left the paved portion of the road and went into the grass shoulder. It then went into a ditch and hit a tree. Contact was made on the front driver’s side. The vehicle came to rest on a dirt embankment. The officer was ejected from the vehicle.
Emergency personnel arrived and conducted lifesaving measures. Yeager was transported to an area hospital. She died of the injuries suffered in the crash.
Further details were unavailable Saturday.
The accident scene was close to Oley Township, which is covered by the Mount Penn-based Central Berks police.
In its statement, the police department hailed Yeager’s service:
“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.
“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.”
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