Officer James Williams Branson Jr.

Police Officer James Branson died of an injury he received when he was involved in a motor vehicle accident while in pursuit of a stolen vehicle.

He and his partner spotted a vehicle that had been taken a few hours earlier in a car jacking. When the officers attempted to stop the vehicle, a pursuit began. During the pursuit, the officer's police cruiser collided with a sport utility vehicle.

Officer Branson was treated for a broken ankle and had surgery on the ankle on February 14, 2003, and was sent home to recover. On March 9, 2003, he suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism caused by a massive blood clot that traveled from his ankle to his heart and lungs.