VIDEO: DPS Trooper Killed in Fiery Crash in San Jacinto County

SAN JACINTO COUNTY, TX — A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper was killed Monday night in a crash while responding to a call in San Jacinto County, according to the Montgomery County Police Reporter. 

DPS said the trooper was traveling on FM 945 off FM 2025 to assist San Jacinto County deputies when the patrol unit left the roadway near the East Fork of the San Jacinto River bridge. The vehicle struck a pine tree and caught fire.

San Jacinto County dispatchers reported the crash just before 9 p.m. DPS said that when the first responding unit arrived, the vehicle was fully engulfed and the trooper was unable to escape.

According to DPS Sgt. Erik Burse, investigators remained on scene for about five hours. He noted the incident happened only 10 feet from the site of another recent fatal crash.

The trooper’s name has not been released. DPS said a formal statement will be issued later Tuesday from DPS headquarters in Austin.