The officer who was involved in the March 22 vehicle crash that seriously injured a Springfield man is no longer employed with the city or the Springfield Police Department as of Monday, June 3, 2024.
Isaiah Houseknecht, 27, was initially placed on restricted duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation into his actions leading up to the accident that occurred while he was on duty.
Cora Scott, the city’s director of public information and civic engagement, confirmed in an email Houseknecht is no longer employed with the city or the Springfield Police Department.
It is not clear if he resigned or was fired.
The Springfield Police Department announced last week the department concluded its traffic investigation into the March crash that happened at Battlefield Road and Kansas Expressway.
Details from traffic investigation released
According to the May 29 news release about the traffic investigation, Houseknecht was driving a Ford Police Interceptor SUV eastbound on Battlefield Road with his emergency lights and siren activated. It was 8:53 p.m.
Tammie Trolinger, 42, from Springfield was driving a red Cadillac DeVille southbound on Kansas Expressway near Battlefield. The two vehicles collided in the intersection. The collision caused the police SUV to hit two vehicles that were stationary on northbound Kansas Expressway.
A passenger in the Cadillac DeVille, Anthony Jones, 47, was transported to the hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
According to police, the traffic investigation revealed the Cadillac DeVille had a green light for southbound Kansas Expressway. Houseknecht’s police vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and entered the intersection while there was a red light for traffic on eastbound Battlefield.
The Springfield Police Department is conducting an internal investigation regarding Houseknecht’s actions.
Police spokesperson Cris Swaters said she is unable to provide any other information due to pending civil litigation.
Former officer involved in a 2021 crash — but not while he was on duty
Houseknecht was involved in another vehicle crash in 2021. But he was not on duty at the time, not in a city-owned vehicle. The crash report cites the probable cause of the accident as being the other driver's improper lane usage.
According to the crash report, the accident happened around 3:39 a.m. on Oct. 23, 2021 at the intersection of Chestnut Expressway and Stewart Avenue in northeast Springfield. Both vehicles were traveling east on Chestnut Expressway, with Houseknecht in the right lane just behind the other vehicle which was in the left lane and driven by Kailey Johnson.
As Johnson was making a U-turn at the intersection of Stewart and Chestnut, she crossed over into the right lane and Houseknecht swerved into the left lane to avoid hitting Johnson’s vehicle, according to the report. Houseknect’s vehicle collided with Johnson’s in the left lane.
The telephone number listed for Houseknecht on the 2021 crash report is no longer assigned to him.
