An off-duty sheriff’s office sergeant died early Monday morning after being struck by what officials suspect was an intoxicated driver Monday.
Sgt. Ramon Gutierrez, 45, of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (TX) was off duty and providing traffic control for a convoy of oversized machinery when he was struck. He was airlifted to an area hospital where he died.
While he was blocking an exit ramp, a woman drove around his motorcycle and hit Gutierrez, who was standing nearby, investigators told NEWS4SA. The woman drove off after hitting the deputy, but another deputy caught up to her and placed her into custody. She has been charged with intoxication assault of a police officer, but those changes could be upgraded to intoxication manslaughter since Gutierrez died.
The woman who struck Guitierrez was later identified as Lavillia Spry, 40, ABC Houston reported.
Gutierrez was a 20-year veteran of the department and served in the Vehicular Crimes Division for the last 13 years, a social media post by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said.
