A Dallas police officer was hit and killed Saturday morning by a suspected drunk driver, authorities said.
The officer blocked the scene of an earlier accident on North Central Road at about 1:45 a.m. when he was hit by a man driving at a speeding speed, according to a Dallas Police Department news release.
Police said the officer was standing outside his patrol vehicle, which turned on the emergency lights. He was taken to Baylor Hospital where he died.
The department did not nominate the officer.
Chief Eddie Garcia announced the death in a tweet, saying the department was mourning ‘once again’.
“But we are encouraged by the strength of his family. God bless my brother,” Garcia wrote.
In a second Twitter post, the principal shared a video of officers queuing outside the hospital to show their respect.
“A tragic night for us. It is a small sign of respect and admiration for a fallen brother and his family,” he wrote. “Rest in peace, hero. We’ll take it from here.”
Mayor Eric Johnson expressed his condolences to the officer in a series of tweets.
“Dallas is mourning today the devastating loss of one of our police officers. He passed away far too young, but the standard of living is not a long life, but what someone does with the time they have. And this officer ‘he devoted his time to serving us big city in an inherently dangerous job,’ ‘he said.
“We are indebted to him forever and forever saddened by this tragedy. I pray today for his family, friends and colleagues. I know our city will offer them love and support as we seek justice.”
According to police, the 32-year-old driver was ‘intoxicated’ during the accident. The driver and a female passenger were not injured in the crash.
The man was arrested and the charges are pending. The woman was questioned by police. Their names were not disclosed.
