A successful businesswoman was killed when a member of a notorious Missouri police department smashed his cruiser into her Audi SQ5, with the force now refusing to divulge details about what happened to her.
Misty Leslie, 48, died on October 11 after sustaining critical injuries in an early morning car crash in Independence, a suburb of Kansas City, police said.
She was driving through an intersection around 1.15am when a police SUV driven by Officer Arnold Matthew struck her 2022 Audi SQ5 on the passenger side.
Citing preliminary evidence, police allege the beloved single mother ran a red light as Officer Arnold was responding to an emergency call.
Independence police have not revealed how fast either vehicle was travelling, but claim Officer Arnold had his lights and sirens on at the time of the crash.
Leslie was taken to a nearby hospital and later died from her injuries, police said.
Officer Arnold suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was also hospitalized. His current condition remains unclear.
The force has also refused to say whether he was placed on leave or reporting to work, with a spokesperson telling the Kansas City Star that his current employment status is 'not an open record.'
Misty Leslie, 48, died on October 11 after an Independence, Missouri police officer smashed his cruiser into her 2022 Audi SQ5
The Independence Police Department has come under scrutiny in recent years due to its history of deadly officer-involved traffic crashes, the newspaper reported.
Earlier this year, the department changed its policy on high-speed police pursuits in an effort to decrease the number of crashes.
Officers are now banned from initiating pursuits for minor traffic offenses or city ordinance violations.
The crash that killed Leslie remains under investigation. The Daily Mail has contacted Independence police for more information. The Leslie family declined to comment on the case.
Leslie leaves behind a 21-year-old daughter, Emarea, whom she loved 'deeply, fiercely, and completely,' her obituary said.
Although she managed retail stores and ran her own photography business, Leslie's loved ones say her 'greatest role was being a mother.'
'Of all the titles Misty held throughout her life, being Emarea's mom was the one that mattered most,' the tribute read. 'The strength, determination, and love Misty carried will live on through her daughter.'
Leslie would visit Emarea at university and even recently attended her 21st birthday celebration.
The college student shared a photo on Facebook four days after the deadly crash of her and her mother at the party. 'So happy I got to spend my 21st with you,' she captioned the image.
Leslie leaves behind a 21-year-old daughter, Emarea, whom she loved 'deeply, fiercely, and completely,' her obituary said
A family friend, commenting on Emarea's tribute, revealed that Leslie had been planning the special celebration since at least August.
'You were her world and every milestone she was celebrating YOU!' the friend wrote.
Leslie's best friend, Christel Meinhold, penned a heartbreaking tribute earlier this week in which she praised the businesswoman's dedication to motherhood.
'We were two strong, independent single moms who could handle anything, except, occasionally, our own lives,' Meinhold said.
'Our friendship was built on love, laughter, honesty, and reminding each other when we were being ridiculous.'
Leslie had many passions, including softball, baking, photography, cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and caring for her dogs and hairless cat.
Her family said that her business, Everything But Weddings (EBW) Photography, allowed Leslie to combine two of her favorite things – 'people and capturing the moments that matter.'
'Through her camera, she preserved celebrations, milestones, smiles, and memories for others,' her loved ones wrote.
Leslie was driving through an intersection around 1.15am when a police SUV driven by Officer Arnold Matthew struck her 2022 Audi SQ5 (file photo) on the passenger side
Leslie brought that same passion to her career in retail, which saw her serving as a District Manager with Signet Jewelers.
She was an 'overachiever' and always determined to succeed, the tribute said. She cared deeply about her job and brought 'drive, high expectations, competitive spirit, and determination' to the workplace.
Leslie was also a baptized Christian whose 'faith was strong and personal.' She demonstrated 'God’s love and grace through the way she treated people.'
Despite the heartbreak, Leslie's family says they have found comfort in knowing that her 'last breath here became her first breath in Heaven, a place without pain or sickness and with everlasting peace.'
The entrepreneur's loved ones added that their 'lives are better because Misty was part of them.'