A Navasota, Texas, Police officer was killed in a head-on collision during a vehicle pursuit Wednesday afternoon.

The fallen officer has been identified as Sergeant Mark Butler.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), said the incident began in College Station just after 3 p.m., when police responded to a report of forgery at Prosperity Bank. Officers confronted a woman who reportedly attempting to cash a fraudulent check. Police said the suspect took off in a black 2023 Jeep Wrangler, leading officers southbound on Highway 6.

Under agency policy, College Station Police Department (CSPD) officers ended their pursuit after the suspect exited Highway 6 south at the FM 2154 ramp, then began driving south in the northbound lanes of Highway 6, KBTX reports.

Texas DPS Troopers continued to follow the vehicle as it entered Grimes County. At about 3:30 p.m., the Jeep collided head-on with a marked Navasota Police Department (NPD) Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Sgt. Butler.

Sgt. Butler was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

Several witnesses to the incident told KBTX how Sgt. Butler prevented the Jeep from hitting their vehicles and labeled him as a hero who sacrificed his life to save the lives of others.