CONROE, Texas -- A deputy hit and killed two women crossing a Montgomery County freeway on Tuesday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Conroe police said off-duty Montgomery County sheriff's Deputy Jack Allen Hunter hit the women in the 3200 block of the North Freeway near League Line Road at about 2:15 a.m.

Hunter, an eight-year veteran deputy, was driving a marked patrol car.

Kelsey Vogel, 20, and Danielle Irvin, 20, had been involved in a wreck shortly before they were killed, police said. Their Ford Focus was found crashed into a concrete barrier.

Investigators said the women were likely on their way to get help.

"They were walking probably back towards the F.M. 3083 area, where there are several convenience stores and telephones," Officer Jeff Smith said. "My first guess would be that they were trying to get back to a telephone."

Police said weather conditions were clear, but the roadway was very dark.

"You have to remember when a vehicle is traveling at freeway speeds that they're traveling faster than what you realize," said Sgt. Bob Berry with the Conroe Police Department. "There was no fog. The roadway was good and dry, so he just wasn't able to see them."

"This is a pretty catastrophic accident," Smith said. "We have two females, young ladies, that have lost their lives. Not only them, but there's going to be many people that have been affected by this tragedy."

"It's just hard for me to believe that she's never coming home," said Steven Irvin, Danielle Irvin's father. "I feel sorry for the officer, but I just want to know what happened."

"It doesn't matter who was driving or what happened. We just want to know the truth," said Rebecca Royal, Danielle Irvin's mother. "We're going to miss her and how much the babies are going to miss her. She's never going to see what they become."

Hunter suffered minor injuries and was taken to Conroe Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The northbound lanes of the freeway were closed for more than three hours while police conducted an investigation and cleared the scene.