Arizona Police Officer, 31, Dead After Car Crashes into His Patrol Vehicle: ‘A Hero Amongst Heroes’

Adam R. Buckner was responding to a call around 10 p.m. local time Sunday when his vehicle was hit at an intersection by a white sedan, according to the Tucson Police Department

• A Tucson police officer has died after his patrol vehicle was hit at an intersection while he was responding to a call on Sunday

• Adam R. Buckner was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, which he later succumbed to, according to the Tucson Police Department
  

• The 31-year-old officer joined the department in 2021 and was recently promoted to lead officer of squad nine

An Arizona police officer has died after his patrol vehicle was hit while he was passing through an intersection Sunday night.

Tucson officer Adam R. Buckner was responding to the call around 10 p.m. local time when his vehicle was hit while “going through the intersection on a green light at 6th Street,” according to a news release from his department.

Buckner’s patrol vehicle subsequently veered “into a traffic signal pole on the northeast corner of the intersection,” and he was found to have sustained life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash, Tucson police said.

The 31-year-old officer was transported to Banner University Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

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"We lost a brave guardian last night," said Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar at a press conference Monday, according to NBC affiliate KVOA. "Adam was an outstanding police officer. A hero amongst heroes."

The driver of the white sedan that hit Buckner’s vehicle was also transported to BUMC with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the TPD.

Buckner was traveling northbound on Campbell Avenue “with his emergency lights and siren activated” at the time of the crash, the department added.

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An investigation into the crash is ongoing. Police have not issued any citations in connection with the incident, according to CBS affiliate KOLD-TV.

Buckner began his career in law enforcement with the New Orleans Police Department in 2017, according to the TPD, which he joined in 2021. He was also “recently highlighted as the Midtown Division’s Officer of the Month and was assigned to squad nine as their lead police officer.”

"It didn't take long for him to shine and quickly become one of our lead police officers," Kasmar said at Monday’s press conference, per KVOA.

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Buckner is the ninth Tucson officer to die in the line of duty in the department's history. He is survived by his wife, mother, sister and three brothers.

A fundraiser has been set up through the Erik Hite Foundation to support Buckner’s family following the officer’s tragic death.

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