Chapel Hill police officer dies Monday after car crash

The Chapel Hill Police Department announced Tuesday that an officer died this week in a car crash.

Officer Mike Mineer died on Monday after a car crash in Chatham County, police said.

The N.C. State Highway Patrol responded to the crash on U.S. Highway 421 around 3:39 p.m.

A log truck had stopped because of the traffic ahead, but Mineer did not stop fast enough, according to the N.C. State Highway Patrol. Mineer hit the truck and was pronounced dead at the scene.

"We are mourning the loss of one of our Guardians of the Hill," the Twitter post read.

Mineer was with an officer for the Chapel Hill Police Department for more than 19 years.

"Mike was a dedicated family man and a caring colleague," the department posted on Twitter. "Our thoughts are with his family and friends—including his CHPD family—in this difficult time. We are doing all that we can to lift them up, and we ask that everyone give them the space they need to grieve."

In August of 2022, Mineer received the Chief’s Cup.

"Officers M. Mineer, T. Jeffreys, and J. Belcher quickly helped find and return a community member’s stolen car," the department said in a Facebook post. "Their response was both effective and compassionate. Lieutenant N. Chambers wrote Chief Blue to commend the officers for their outstanding work."