34-year-old pregnant mother was killed in crash involving police officer, family says

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS/Gray News) - A 34-year-old pregnant mother was killed in a crash involving a Columbia, South Carolina, police officer on Monday afternoon, according to the woman’s family and their representative.

The family of Ashley Michelle Brown reached out to WIS on Tuesday to share her identity.

Relatives said Brown would have turned 35 on Tuesday.

Family members were able to confirm the color, make and model of the victim’s vehicle. They said Brown was six months pregnant and was supposed to have her baby shower the weekend of April 13.

Columbia police officer Derian Davis responded shortly after 3 p.m. on Monday to a shots fired call.

While on his way to the shooting scene at JT’s Kia on Greystone Boulevard, Davis was involved in a crash with Brown and a silver van at the intersection of North Main Street and Prescott Road, officials said.

According to the Columbia Police Department, everyone involved in the crash was taken to an area hospital.

Brown died from her injuries at the hospital, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The officer involved in the crash suffered a leg injury and underwent surgery on Tuesday, the police department said.

The driver of the silver van, identified as Jeffrie Griffin, was also injured in the crash. He hired attorney Hemphill Pride, who said he has taken on several similar cases against police departments.

Pride had a message to law enforcement.

“Remember, you are here to prevent and to protect public safety, not to be a part of the problem,” Pride said.

WIS spoke with Roger Brasley, a friend of Brown’s family, who shared what she was like.

“She was very outspoken, very loving. She was an awesome mother, awesome sister, awesome daughter, a beautiful friend,” Brasley said. “She was just a very gentle soul that if you didn’t know her, you should have.”

The Richland County Coroner’s Office said in a news conference that the fetus did not survive the crash.

“We went from planning a baby shower to planning a funeral, so its shell-shocking to be honest with you,” Brasley added.

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