TOMBALL, Texas – A deputy who was injured in a crash caused by a suspected drunk driver told good Samaritans who arrived at the scene to help the driver of the other vehicle rather than checking on him, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash happened in the 23000 block of Tomball Parkway around 11 p.m. Friday.
Investigators said a deputy was traveling northbound on the road when his patrol vehicle was clipped by a white Mercedes that was traveling at a high rate of speed. The collision caused both vehicles to spin out of control and crash. Smoke was seen coming from the Mercedes.
Witnesses told investigators the Mercedes driver was ‘flying,’ appearing to reach speeds as high as 120 mph.
When they ran to check on the deputy, he told them to check on the condition of the other driver first. The deputy then lost consciousness but regained it when emergency crews arrived at the scene, investigators said.
The civilian driver was also injured, and appeared to have been drinking, witnesses said.
“That guy was three sheets to the wind and was compressed on the air bag and my husband and father pulled him out,” one woman described.
The deputy and civilian driver were both transported to the hospital for treatment. Their conditions were unknown, but authorities said the deputy was alert.
Investigators said the at-fault driver is facing charges for driving while intoxicated.
“We’re in Harris County, people unfortunately like to drink and drive seems like a lot around here. Obviously when you drink and drive bad stuff can happen,” Sgt. Bondurant said. “People can get injured whether it’s a police officer or civilian and we don’t want that to happen. We want everyone safe we want the Astros to do well, and we want everyone to go home at the end of the night, including our deputies and our civilians.”