75°
70º | 76°
A vehicular crash claimed the life of a Harris County deputy constable on Saturday (April 2), Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told Houston-based media outlets. Deputy Jennifer Chavis was killed by a suspected drunk driver who rear-ended her patrol unit and caused the vehicle to catch on fire, authorities said.
“Harris County Precinct 7 Deputy Constable Jennifer Chavis paid the ultimate sacrifice,” Gonzalez tweeted. “She died [on Saturday] in the line of duty, after being struck by a suspected drunk driver. It saddens me to know how her life was senselessly cut short.”
Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported that Chavis succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
The motorist, who authorities identified as 36-year-old Adolfo Serrano, fled the 7200 block of the South Sam Houston Tollway West but was later arrested and taken into custody, according to the station. Serrano allegedly drove a pickup truck at the time of the incident.
The HCSO Vehicular Crimes Division's (VCD) Captain Anthony McConnell hailed 32-year-old Chavis as a hero, Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported.
"Every agency out here has a DWI unit and we're fighting people like this, to get them off the streets," McConnell said, the station reported.
According to KHOU, Serrano has a lengthy criminal record with at least two driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges.
While the suspect didn't appear in court on Monday (April 4), the station reported, his bond was set at $750,000.
Eyewitness Jessica Cano recalled the incident to Houston ABC affiliate KTRK.
"All of a sudden we heard a big bang," Cano told the station. "Then, we see black smoke. We ran over here and saw that truck on fire."
KTRK reported that the HCSO VCD is heading the investigation of the incident.
Chavis’s death follows that of Harris County Sheriff’s deputy Darren Almendarez, who was killed on March 31 while attempting to stop thieves from stealing a catalytic converter.