Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Friday, July 18, 2008 8:35 am

Ronald Killings

A veteran sheriff’s detective is on administrative leave after an 11-year-old girl died after darting in front of his unmarked car Thursday on Bradyville Pike, Murfreesboro Police said.

Lakeisha White was visiting family in Murfreesboro when she was struck by the car about 8:45 p.m. on the 1400 block of Bradyville Pike, said police spokesman Kyle Evans. She was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she later died.

Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Dan Goodwin said driver Detective Sgt. Ron Killings was placed on routine administrative leave while the crash is investigated. He was on duty when the crash occurred.

“Our prayers are with the family of Lakeisha White,” Goodwin reported.

Killings joined the sheriff’s department 12 years ago. He worked as a domestic violence detective until being promoted as sergeant in the Criminal Investigation’s Division last year.

“Sgt. Killings’ record is exemplary and we stand by him,” Goodwin reported in a press release just issued. “Killings has two young daughters and is understandably devastated by this accident.”

Murfreesboro Police Sgt. Sam Campbell, who commands the Fatal Accident Crash Team, said Killings drove a Crown Victoria.

"She darted out in front of him and he never saw her," Campbell said.

The deputy took care of the girl until paramedics arrived. Lakeisha, who was visiting her grandmother in Murfreesboro, lived in Hopkinsville, Ky.

Killings was taken for a routine blood-alcohol test.

"I found no evidence that would indicate alcohol was involved," Campbell said.

The crash remains under investigation by FACT.

Lakeisha was the 16th traffic fatality this year in Rutherford County.