COLUMBIA, S.C. — The woman who died in crash involving a Columbia Police vehicle is being remembered as a loving mother who was expecting another child in the coming months.
Ashley Brown, 34, died from injuries sustained in a crash at the intersection of North Main Street and Prescott Road Monday afternoon. Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said Tuesday the officer who collided with her vehicle was responding to a police chase involving a suspect who officers said had just killed an employee at a Columbia car dealership.
Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said Brown was between 27 and 28 weeks pregnant. Her child did not survive.
"Ashley was a beautiful person, she was a beautiful soul, she was a sister, a friend, a mother," said Roger Brasley. He told News19 he'd known Brown for most of her adult life. Tuesday would have been her 35th birthday.
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"She was getting into her moment. She was moving into her space," Brasley said. "You know, God had her going in a happy place finally, and she was getting there, and the baby was going to....we saw she was just glowing up. The baby was really allowing her to just be so gentle and soft and amazing."
Brasley got a call about the fatal accident and was one of the first people who knew her on the scene. He said he couldn't see much, but once he realized that she was already taken by first responders, he was holding out hope that she would be okay.
"As I'm walking into my car, the police officer said to me, 'I'm sorry for your loss,'" Brasley remembered.
Her death leaves her 16 year old daughter without a mother and took the life of her baby boy who was due in just a couple of months. Her baby shower was scheduled for this Saturday.
"She was naming him Lewis, after her deceased father, she lost her father two years ago," Brasley said. "I just knew that they were gonna tell us that they were able to save the baby. At least try to you know, but it was, it was too much. Clearly, we're not planning the baby shower anymore. We have to plan a funeral and this is....it's still shocking."
Brown was working for a local dentist's office during the day and just graduated from cosmetology school with dreams of beginning a new career.
"Called her instructors, they spoke nothing but high things about Ashley and how much they loved her," Brasley said. "She took no junk she didn't ask no questions. She did what she wanted to do. She lived life to the fullest. God is still good. In the midst of this, I still have to say Lord, I thank you. God is good. He's amazing and you can't question things that you just don't understand. It's not for you to understand. You just got to keep pushing and keep pressing."
Those who met her at cosmetology school say she was an incredible person, "Truly unbreakable spirit and she lived in her authentic self," said Shavetta Belton.
Her family is in the process of making funeral arrangements.