TAMPA -- Police have confirmed that Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen swerved his cruiser into the path of a wrong way driver, taking two sharp turns to intercept it, just before the crash that took his life early Tuesday morning.
Data from the other car shows driver Joshua Montague was traveling at 100 miles per hour, going the wrong way on northbound I-275. Montague, 25, also died in the collision.
Full toxicology reports are still being analyzed, but initial findings show Montague was intoxicated. Detectives say he was in the process of moving to the Tampa Bay area and was staying at a local hotel, driving a rental car.
Police Chief Brian Dugan says the findings show Madsen was "a true American hero... we believe Officer Madsen was attempting to stop this wrong way driver from putting anyone else's life in danger by laying down his own."
Madsen will posthumously receive the Police Purple Shield and the department's highest recognition, the Medal of Honor, as well as his eighth Lifesaving Award.
The city is hosting a candlelight vigil outside Tampa Police Headquarters Thursday evening at 6:30. The event is open to the public and will be streamed live at https://www.facebook.com/tampapd
Officer Madsen's funeral service will take place Tuesday at 11 a.m at Idlewild Baptist Church.
There is more information about donations to the Madsen family at https://www.tampa.gov/police
Photo: Tampa PD