According to Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokesman Chris Cannon, the agency is investigating the circumstances surrounding last month’s crash that killed Chattanooga Police Officer Nicholas Galinger.

Cannon said this is the first such investigation involving the police department in more than five years. TOSHA does not ordinarily investigate police deaths, unless they occur while an officer is in a work zone or directing traffic.

Galinger was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while inspecting a manhole cover with water flowing from it during heavy rains.

Fifty-four-year-old Janet Elaine Hinds has been charged with vehicular homicide in Galinger’s death; yesterday a judge sent the case to a grand jury.

Ben McGowan, Hinds’ attorney, claimed a number of factors show Galinger’s death to be the result of a “tragic and unavoidable” accident.