HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A deputy in Harris County died Wednesday after a crash with a semi-truck and trailer on a Houston-area freeway and another was injured during an escort to the hospital, according to authorities.
Deputy Robert Adam Howard, 27, of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office was involved in a collision on State Highway 249 in a Houston suburb. He was rushed to an area hospital but did not survive, KHOU reported.
The deputy’s patrol SUV hit the back of a stopped 18-wheeler on the highway, causing the law enforcement unit to basically tear apart in what the sheriff called a “pretty horrific impact,” according to ABC 13.
“We’re devastated that we’re losing such a great teammate described as a workhorse, described as having a great personality, funny, and just outgoing,” Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said as a large law enforcement contingent stood behind him outside Memorial Hermann in The Woodlands. “We have a lot of heavy hearts.”
During the escort of Howard to the hospital, a second deputy riding a law enforcement motorcycle was injured in a collision as authorities were blocking traffic.
The unnamed motor deputy is hospitalized in fair condition, Gonzalez said.
Images of the scene showed the sheriff’s patrol vehicle with major damage on its left side and the roof ripped off. Nearby was a commercial truck situated on the side of the freeway, the New York Post reported.
