A Harris County Sheriff's Office sergeant has died after he was hit by a suspected drunk driver.
It happened just before 1 a.m. this morning on the East Beltway feeder road near Tidwell Road in northeast Harris County.
According to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the deputy, identified as 45-year-old Sgt. Ramon Gutierrez, was working an off-duty job as a motorcycle escort, helping a heavy load along the service road.
Gonzalez says Gutierrez was off his motorcycle, blocking the exit ramp, when a 40-year-old woman drove around his bike and hit him.
The second deputy killed in Harris County over the past 24 hours.
The woman took off from the scene, but was later pulled over.
She reportedly showed signs of intoxication.
Sgt. Gutierrez was flown by LifeFlight in critical condition to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he later died.
"The sheriff identified him as Sgt. Ramon Gutierrez, 45. He was assigned to the Harris County Vehicular Crimes Division and is 19-year veteran. He leaves behind a wife, daughter and two sons...
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez spoke early Monday following the death of Sgt. Ramon Gutierrez.
“Anytime we lose a law enforcement hero, it is not just the department that suffers but the entire community’s loss,” the sheriff said.
The sheriff asked the community to continue to support law enforcement as they grieve the loss of another officer after a Harris County Precinct 5 deputy constable was gunned down over the weekend.
“We’re grieving, we’ll get through this,” the sheriff said. “It is incredibly hard when we lose a public servant that has given their entire life in service to the Harris County community.”
Sheriff Gonzalez went on to describe Sgt. Gutierrez as being an “excellent” sergeant who gave "exemplary service" and was an excellent deputy prior to that.
“Family’s grieving, his daughter is set to get married in less than two months,” the sheriff said. “There is just no word to describe what they are going through right now. We’re doing everything we can to lift them up in support and prayer as we get through this as an agency and a community.”
The woman accused of hitting and killing Sgt. Gutierrez has been charged with intoxication assault of a police officer, a first-degree felony that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and failure to stop and render aid - serious bodily injury. Those charges could change since Gutierrez died.
How long before the woman is freed on PR bond?