Off-duty officer dies in crash
An off-duty police officer died in a one-vehicle crash in Washington County at 4:20 p.m Sunday just after his shift ended at Terre Du Lac Police Department.
Adam King, 28, of Potosi, was an officer with the Terre Du Lac Police Department and a former officer of the Bismarck Police Department.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, King was driving his 1992 Jeep Wrangler northbound on Highway 47, less than a mile north of Old Bonne Terre Road, when he went off the left side of the road and then over-corrected. He then went off the right side of the road and the vehicle overturned striking a tree.
King was not wearing his seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene by Washington County Deputy Coroner Steve Hatfield. He was taken to the Washington County Coroner’s Office.
Washington County Sheriff Zach Jacobsen said King’s father is a full-time deputy with the sheriff’s department.
“I set up a benefit fund for his children and widow at Belgrade State Bank (Monday) morning,” said Jacobsen. “Anyone who is willing to make a donation, it will be appreciated. All donations that will be made will go to the family. It can be made at any Belgrade bank branch and the account name is ‘Adam King Benefit Fund.'”
Jacobsen said King was a good young man and it was devastating for all of them, especially King’s wife and two children.
“It’s a pretty trying time for them with the holidays, so we are trying help,” said Jacobsen. “Everyone is doing what they can to help his family. It’s a secure way to donate to the family. With Adam passing it’s been a bad situation around here.”
Jacobsen said it has really affected everybody and people don’t realize it, but they are all truly family, whether they wear the same badge or not.
“It doesn’t matter if we don’t wear the same patch, we are all cut from the same cloth,” said Jacobsen. “It’s devastating for all of us and the entire law enforcement community.”
Terre Du Lac Police Chief Tim Cook is also working on other fundraisers and has set up a youcaring.com page for “Officer Adam M. King’s family.”
Funeral arrangements are through DeClue Funeral Home. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. Afterward a funeral procession will begin to the burial site near Liberty Baptist Church on Route C in Belgrade.
Adam King
Renee Bronaugh is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-518-3617 or rbronaugh@dailyjournalonline.com
