Officer Killed in MC accident

[4734]

I got word tonight that a Officer (co-worker) was killed while he was off duty riding his motorcycle, his wife is also in critical condition.
What I was told was that someone pulled out or turned in front of them.
More will be posted after kin is notified.

I really hate posting things like this, please pray for his family.

Thanks,

[jhansen]

prayers up for the family.

[Big-T]

Please pray for the family. It said in the Chronicle online that they have a 10 year old son. The wife is in critical condition. T.

[Janet]

This is what was in the email I received,

"An off duty Conroe police officer has been killed near Willis and his wife Lifeflighted to Houston's Herman Hospital in critical condition. Officer Feldon (Joe ) Cranfill and his wife Kassie were riding their motorcycle east on Calvary Rd. when a Ford Ranger reportedly turned left in front of them at Lake Conroe Bay Dr.

Cranfill was airlifted to Houston Herman by PSI Air Ambulance and was reported dead on arrival. The accident happened shortly after 3 o'clock this afternoon. Officer's are still at the scene investigating."

Joe was a brother Blue Knight and Vice President of XXXIII.
Rest in peace Brother.

[RedPill]

How sad. Prayers said, especially for the wife and family.

[leekellerking]

May God rest his soul and give her doctors the wisdom they need to pull her through.

[dukey33]

It was one of the lead stories on the 10 o'clock news last night.

Prayers for their families.

Dave

[4734]

I did find out today the he was wearing a 3/4 helmet and that they were on thier Goldwing. The truck turned in front of them as they were traveling on Calvery Rd. He laid the GW down and and slid into the side of the truck. A full faced helmet could of made a difference...who knows for sure.

[MCRyder]

Deepest sympathies and prayers to family and friends. Special prayers for the wife's recovery.

[Cruzintexas]

Very sad! Anyone know her condition. I have seen them around Conroe.
I just went for a short ride and there was a HD down on League Line east of 45. There were several cops there already not sure about injuries or how it happened.

[Hemibee]

Here is the article in the Courier.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the wife, family, co-workers and friends

http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19188498&BRD=1574&PAG=461&dept_id=532215&rfi=6


01/10/2008
BREAKING NEWS*Off-duty police officer killed in accident
By: Jamie Nash , Courier staff

An off-duty Conroe Police officer died Thursday afternoon after he and his wife, who was critically injured, were ejected from his motorcycle when it collided with a pick-up truck near Lake Conroe.
Feldon J. "Joe" Cranfill, 38, of Willis, was pronounced dead on arrival after being flown by PHI Air Medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston's Texas Center. His wife, Casanda "Kasi" Cranfill, was also flown by PHI to the same hospital following the wreck, which occurred just after 3 p.m., according to officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
A DPS official said the crash occurred at the intersection of Calvary Road and Lake Conroe Bay and involved the Cranfills' motorcycle and a Ford Ranger. A Montgomery County Sheriff's deputy reported the accident.
Further accident details were unavailable as of press time.
In a show of solidarity and support, several fellow CPD officers attended the Conroe City Council meeting, along with Deputy Chief Philip Dupuis, who led the meeting in prayer. Dupuis made the announcement and said Kasi Cranfill was in critical condition, but expected to survive.
He also said the couple has a 10-year-old son.
Cranfill, a three-year CPD veteran, was also vice-president of the Blue Knights of Texas Chapter 33, and President Ray Wilkins said he was grooming Cranfill to take the top spot.
"He had a kind heart," Wilkins said. "And he was the kind of person who was always there if you needed anything."
Most recently, Cranfill worked with the Blue Knights' Blue Santa Program, which provided a Christmas party last month for 25 children and their families. Cranfill served as one of Santa's helpers at the event and also worked on the preparations and publicity.

[Hemibee]

Second article in the Courier
http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19191919&BRD=1574&PAG=461&dept_id=532215&rfi=6


01/12/2008
County residents rally around officer's family
By: Jamie Nash , Courier staff

The wife of a Conroe Police officer killed in an off-duty motorcycle accident Thursday remains hospitalized in serious condition, and family and friends - plus many county residents - are rallying to support her and the couple's young son.

Officer Feldon "Joe" Cranfill and Casanda "Kasi" Cranfill were ejected from his motorcycle when it struck a pickup that turned in front of him from an oncoming lane on Calvary Road, according to Texas Department of Public Safety officials. Both were flown by medical helicopter to Houston's Memorial Hermann Hospital. Joe Cranfill, 38, was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver of the pickup was uninjured.
Joe Cranfill's death marked Montgomery County's first automobile-related fatality of 2008.
DPS officials said the 2001 Ford pickup was westbound on Calvary Road and Cranfill's motorcycle was eastbound when the pickup turned left toward Lake Conroe Bay, crossing the eastbound lane. Joe Cranfill tried unsuccessfully to avoid a collision.
DPS investigators painted the road on Thursday and returned to make calculations and continue the process Friday. The pickup's driver was not cited, pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Joe and Kasi Cranfill have a 10-year-old son.
CPD was inundated with calls Friday from people wanting to help the Cranfill family, so the Conroe Police Officer's Association has established an account with Woodforest Bank. Detective James Graham said contributions can be made at any location to the Feldon "Joe" Cranfill Benefit Account.
Kasi Cranfill is the daughter of Barbara Adamick, Montgomery County District Clerk. Graham said someone in the District Clerk's Office called CPD Friday to ask about the fund, and said their office also was receiving numerous calls.
"Our intent is to help out and do whatever we can in their time of need," Graham said. "We know no amount of money will replace Joe, but if we can help his family we think that's what he would want."
Graham said the three-year CPD veteran was a good officer and a nice person, a sentiment echoed by members of the Willis Police Department, where Cranfill worked for a decade.
Cranfill trained WPD Lt. Larry Shoemaker, who said he and many others in the department and in Willis are devastated by the loss.
"I just can't say enough about him," Shoemaker said. "He was a good police officer and a good man within the community."
Although WPD is a small department, Shoemaker said, Cranfill always wanted to see a SWAT Team developed.
"We didn't have the manpower, but he went to SWAT school then came back and taught us the tactics he'd learned," Shoemaker said. "Officer safety was very important to him."
WPD officers are wearing tape across their badges in memory of Cranfill, he said.
Conroe Mayor Tommy Metcalf said city leaders were "very saddened" to learn of Cranfill's death.
"Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the family during this time of crisis," Metcalf said. "We just hope that his wife gets through this and is able to come back and be a part of the community."
In addition to serving the Conroe and Willis communities as an officer for 13 years, Cranfill was vice president of the Blue Knights of Texas Chapter 33, a law enforcement motorcycle club actively involved in charitable events such as the Blue Santa Program.
Jamie Nash can be reached at jnash@hcnonline.com.

[jhansen]

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