A North Texas police officer checking vehicle speeds by radar has been knocked down by a passing car and killed.
Officer Albert J. Castaneda, 38, of the Grand Prairie (TX) Police Department was standing outside his patrol car checking traffic speed on President George Bush Turnpike when he was hit about 10:30 a.m. Friday, reports the Associated Press.
Troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety say the driver of the car lost control of his vehicle and struck the police SUV, hurling Castaneda to the ground. He died at the hospital.
According to ODMP.org, Officer Castaneda was a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and an 11-year law enforcement veteran who had served with the Grand Prairie Police Department for five years. He is survived by two children.