HOUSTON – Two Harris County Precinct 5 deputies were working a traffic stop when a car slammed into their patrol vehicles in west Houston, injuring one of them.
Authorities said a deputy was issuing a traffic ticket on Beltway 8 near Hammerly when another deputy stopped to help around 3:30 a.m.
According to investigators, a white Tahoe traveling in the far left lane crossed all four lanes and headed straight for the patrol vehicles in the northbound lane.
One deputy was standing outside the driver's side of the vehicle that was pulled over while the other was standing outside the passenger side.
"The deputy that saw the vehicle coming hollered at the deputy to look out," said Assistant Chief Randy Johnson with Harris County Precinct 5. "Both deputies were outside the vehicle. One deputy was able to jump over the retaining wall to avoid the injury. The other deputy that was on the traffic stop was hit."
Deputy Paul Olivera was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital with a head injury. Precinct 5 said Olivera was in the Intensive Care Unit because of swelling in his head. By noon, the swelling had gone down and Olivera was expected to be OK, doctors said.
The driver of the Tahoe, Joseph Robert Allen, 27, was taken into custody and charged with a second-degree felony of intoxication assault. He was being held on a $30,000 bond.
All northbound lanes of Beltway 8 near Hammerly were closed for hours during the investigation. The lanes were reopened by 6 a.m.
Investigators said the deputy that was initiated the stop was hit by a suspected drunken driver while directing traffic three days ago. He was not injured in that incident.