BROOKSHIRE, Texas – A police officer who was a passenger in a vehicle driven by a suspected drunken driver that crashed into a car, killing two people, has lost his job
State troopers said Katherin Addison, 48, and her son, Kendall, got a flat tire on Interstate 10 near Peach Ridge near Brookshire about 2:20 a.m. Thursday.
They pulled over to change the tire. Addison got out while Kendall stayed in the car.
A pickup truck, which witnesses said was traveling at a high rate of speed, slammed into their car, detectives said.
The car burst into flames and the mother and her son died at the scene.
Relatives said the pair were on the way to see Addison's older son in Sealy.
The driver, Taylor McShan, 23, has been charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter.
Detectives said McShan had a suspended license and has been arrested several times on charges of driving without a license.
Police said the passenger in the pickup truck was Katy police Officer Cody Parchman, who had been on the force since Dec. 16. Investigators said Parchman appeared to be drunk at the time of the crash.
Parchman was the owner of the pickup truck McShan was driving.
Katy Assistant Police Chief Tim Tyler said Friday that Parchman made a series of bad decisions.
"This conduct is not condoned by the Katy Police Department or the city of Katy, not will we tolerate any such behavior by any members of our force," Tyler said. "After receiving all preliminary information from the Department of Public Safety concerning this investigation, the Katy Police Department has terminated Officer Parchman."
The victims' relatives said they feel better knowing that Parchman is off the force.
"To allow someone under those circumstances to drive your vehicle ... (Parchman) is just as liable as (McShan) is because he could have prevented it," relative Julie Blackman said.