5th division Officer Paul Pegram has died after being struck by an SUV while riding his bicycle. It happened about 9:30 Thursday morning in Spencer County, near Taylorsville Lake, on Highway 248 near Captain's Cove.
Investigators say Pegram, who was off duty, was riding his bike westbound on 248 and had stopped on the shoulder when he was hit by a white 2011 Hyundai.
Spencer County Deputy Sheriff Kyle Bennett says the driver believes the Officer Pegram was near the white line on the shoulder of the road and looking for something on or around his bike or taking a drink. "The driver saw him faintly, struck him," Bennett says. "The driver backed up, realized that he had struck a bicyclist."
Bennett described the driver as "upset" and "in a state of shock" over the crash. He said the driver lives less than two miles from the scene, as did the officer, but they did not know one another. LMPD Chief Robert White says no alcohol was involved in the incident.
Bystanders performed CPR on Officer Pegram prior to emergency personnel arriving on the scene. Paul was taken by helicopter to U of L Hospital. LMPD officials soon confirmed that he had died.
Chief White says the officer's family rushed to the hospital, as did many other LMPD officers. Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson said Thursday, "As you can imagine, the family is so distraught by the tragedy of this situation."
The Spencer County Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation. Kentucky State Police have also been called in to assist, according to Mayor Abramson.
"It has always been my prayer that this never happens, that we never lose a police officer," Chief White said. "When this does happen, the department galvanizes its resources, they hold each other up, they continue to do their jobs and undoubtedly they will certainly support the family of the officer."
Visitation for Pegram will be at Pearson Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home, located at 12900 Shelbyville Road on Monday, Oct. 4 from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The funeral will take place at Southeast Christian Church on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 10:00 a.m.
So far no charges have been filed against the driver who struck Pegram.
A crash witness tells Fox 41 News the driver was extremely upset by what happened.
"He wasn't driving fast," the witness told us. "He was extremely upset."
Pegram was an eight year veteran of the LMPD's 5th division. Investigators say the officer was not wearing a helmet.
The wife of the driver told Fox 41 News that it was a terrible accident and she wants to offer the deepest condolences to Officer Pegram's family.