The man who killed a Louisville Metro Police Department detective after slamming into the back of her cruiser was watching porn on his cellphone at the time of the collision, prosecutors said.
Roger Burdette, 62, killed 32-year-old Detective Deidre Mengedoht on the afternoon of December 24, 2018, when his Metro Sewer District semi-truck struck Mengedoht’s cruiser as she conducted a traffic stop on I-64 near the Belvedere in downtown Louisville.
The impact of the crash propelled the detective’s cruiser into the back of a pickup truck where it burst into flames. Mengedoht was inside the cruiser. There were four people in the pickup truck but no one was injured.
Prosecutors said in addition to Burdette being intoxicated on prescription drugs, he was also viewing pornography on his cellphone when the semi smashed into the cruiser.
Burdette, who was not injured, has been charged with murder, aggravated DUI, and multiple counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.
Mengedoht had been with the Louisville Metro PD for over seven years. Two settlements totaling nearly $14 million have been awarded to the detective’s young son.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
