Fundraiser created for family of Louisville police officer whose wife died in car crash

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville police officer, recovering from one tragedy, was recently hit with a devastating loss.

Louisville Metro Police Sgt. Chris Lane's wife, Erendida, died in a car crash. Lane's 14-year-old daughter was also injured, but she is expected to recover. Erendida Lane, 40, was married to the LMPD officer for 19 years and they had two children. They met when Lane was serving with the U.S. Marines.

Now the Louisville Metro Police Foundation is gathering donations for the family facing another tragedy.

Lane was shot in the face on Nov. 19, 2021, while in his police cruiser on the Watterson Expressway near Dixie Highway. Lane, who has been with LMPD since 2007, survived the shooting while construction worker Freddrick "Freddie" O'Bannon died when a suspect opened fire.

Lane was able to pursue Keyshaun Stewart and return fire. He shot Stewart and got him into custody.

"Chris courageously gave chase and was able to get the guy and apprehend him with the help of some others and he had to go through all of that healing," said Rebecca Grignon-Reker, executive director of the Louisville Metro Police Foundation.

Stewart was indicted on several charges, including murder, assault, criminal attempted murder of a police officer, and wanton endangerment by a Jefferson County grand jury.

Since the shooting, Lane and his wife were there for the family of O'Bannon.

"Chris was so focused on helping Freddie's family and helping his children and he even took Christmas gifts over to them and I know they stayed in touch throughout the years," Grignon-Reker said.

Saturday, Lane's wife died in a car crash. She was a teacher who taught English to children.

"She was one of the few people that I've met that genuinely put everyone else before herself," Grignon-Reker said. "She wanted nothing back."

Lane will now raise a 14-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy by himself.

"He's going to need a lot of help, and he's going to need us to stand behind him the way he has supported us," Grignon-Reker said.

Lane has returned to serving people in Louisville, but Grignon-Reker said he is devastated over the loss of his wife.

"He wanted to share with the community that she was a selfless person who put everybody else's needs before her own and you can see that light in her in the pictures, that love that shined out from her," Grignon-Reker said. "You could tell when you saw them together, they were just so in love."

The foundation is encouraging people to donate to Lane and his family. Donations can be submitted by clicking here or through Venmo to @LouisvilleMetro-PoliceFoundati. Checks can also be sent to Louisville Metro Police Foundation for Chris and the kids at 982 Eastern Parkway, Box 5, Louisville KY 40217.

The funding will help the Lane family get through the next steps of life.

"People say 'Well $2 isn't going to make a difference,'" Grignon-Reker said. "But if we all give $2, it will make a huge difference. It makes a huge impact."

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