Houston officer involved in fatal crash 'relieved of duty'

The Houston police officer responsible for a post-Christmas crash that claimed the life of a 75-year-old man has been “relieved of duty” pending an investigation. 

The victim was identified as Charles Payne.

A report by ABC13 this week states the officer had been operating an agency-issued SUV patrol vehicle when he hit the man as he turned left toward Thornton Road Dec. 26.

“He had left home for church this morning, and he didn’t make it back,” Payne’s son, Kevin Payne, told Click2Houston.com 

According to authorities, the officer had been driving northbound on N. Shepherd when Payne, who had been traveling south, turned left toward Thornton Road. After the vehicles collided, Payne was transported to the hospital for minor injuries where he died, ABC13 reports. 

The Houston Police Department Vehicular Crimes and Internal Affairs Divisions as well as the Harris County District Attorney's Office are currently investigating the deadly accident, ABC reports. While the officer had been on duty at the time, HPD states he had not been responding to any calls. 

Payne was a father of seven and had 13 grandchildren.