Veteran New Orleans police officer Vernell Brown Jr., who had been in a coma for five days since he was struck by a car on U.S. 90, died Friday (July 17). Police Department spokesman Tyler Gamble said funeral arrangements were pending.
Brown, 47, was a 17-year veteran of the Police Department and most recently was assigned to the 6th District. He was out of his car checking on a vehicle fire near Interstate 10 on Sunday when he was hit by a car. The car first struck another vehicle then hit Brown. Gamble said police still are investigating the crash. No charges have been filed.
Brown is the third New Orleans police officer to die as a result of a vehicle crash in the past 10 years. Officer Rodney Thomas, 52, died in 2013 in a hit-and-run on the I-10 high-rise, and officer George Tessier died after being struck by an 18-wheeler in 2004 on I-10 near Michoud Boulevard.