A State Trooper was hospitalized early Friday morning after being struck by a suspected drunk driver overnight in northwest Houston, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The unidentified trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety was conducting a traffic stop on State Highway 249 near Upland Willow Avenue at around 2:30 a.m. Friday morning when he was struck. According to DPS lieutenant Craig Cummings, a bystander flagged down another nearby officer after the crash. The trooper was hospitalized shortly after.
During a brief press conference outside the hospital where the trooper was being treated, Cummings said the trooper was in critical but stable condition.
“We’re asking for the community to keep the trooper, and all the doctors and nurses and all the medical staff, in their thoughts as the trooper receives the lifesaving treatment,” Cummings said.
Cummings said the driver allegedly drove away from the scene and fled on foot before being apprehended by officers. The driver could face several felony charges, Cummings added.
According to Cummings, state law enforcement will be investigating the incident alongside the sheriff’s office and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
At the time of the crash, the @TxDPSSoutheast trooper was out of his vehicle conducting a traffic stop. HCSO will take the lead on the crash/DWI investigation.
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) September 27, 2024