Deputy Killed on Duty
Montgomery County Deputy Killed Directing Traffic at I-45 Crash; Truck Driver Investigated
Key Points
Deputy Erika Serrato was assigned to District 2 in the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.
The heavy-duty commercial truck pulling a trailer struck Serrato and two marked patrol vehicles that had their emergency lights activated.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office publicly thanked multiple law enforcement and public safety partners for their assistance, including the Texas Department of Public Safety, Harris County Sheriff's Office, Houston Police Department, and Oak Ridge North Police Department.
The response to the crash began around 2:39 a.m. on Interstate 45 near the Woodlands Parkway exit, creating a multi-agency incident scene.
Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputy Erika Serrato, 24, was struck and killed early Sunday while directing traffic on Interstate 45 North near The Woodlands Parkway. A heavy-duty commercial truck pulling a trailer hit her and two marked patrol vehicles around 3 a.m., KHOU reported. Serrato was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition and later died from her injuries.
Serrato had served six years with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office — an unusually long tenure for her age. She started as a detention officer and even received a Lifesaving Award in 2022 after performing CPR on an unresponsive inmate, KWTX reported. Sheriff Wesley Doolittle said, "She was exactly where she was supposed to be, protecting others, when her life was tragically taken."
How a DWI Crash Turned Deadly for a Deputy
The chain of events began at 2:39 a.m., when multiple 911 callers reported a multi-vehicle crash on I-45 North near the Woodlands Parkway exit, according to Chron. Deputies arrived and identified the initial crash as a suspected DWI incident. The driver, 34-year-old Ashton Jammer, was later charged with Driving While Intoxicated and booked into the Montgomery County Jail.
While Serrato and a second deputy stood outside their patrol cars — both with emergency lights flashing — a heavy-duty commercial truck slammed into them. The second deputy was injured by debris. The truck driver was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and is cooperating with investigators, KHOU reported. The Texas Department of Public Safety is leading the crash reconstruction.
A Six-Year Veteran Lost at Just 24 Years Old
Despite being only 24, Serrato was no rookie. She began her career as a detention officer and volunteered for border assistance deployments in Del Rio, Texas in 2021. In March 2022, she performed CPR on an unresponsive inmate and earned a department Lifesaving Award. She was assigned to District 2 of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at the time of her death.
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough asked Governor Abbott to lower flags to half-staff in her honor. More than nine agencies responded to the scene or assisted, including the Texas Department of Public Safety, Harris County Sheriff's Office, Houston Police Department, and Oak Ridge North Police Department, according to Fox San Antonio. Funeral arrangements had not yet been announced as of Sunday.
I-45 Shut Down 13 Hours; Hazmat Reports Disputed
The northbound lanes of I-45 closed completely at Rayford Road and Sawdust Road shortly after the crash. They did not reopen until around 4 p.m. — roughly 13 hours later. The closure disrupted a major freight corridor between Houston and Dallas on a Sunday morning, affecting hundreds of commercial shipments.
Houston TranStar and TxDOT both logged a hazmat spill near the scene around 11:15 a.m., according to Chron. But the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said it was unaware of any confirmed hazmat spill. The conflicting reports added confusion for commuters already dealing with a full highway shutdown.
Texas Move Over Law Under Renewed Scrutiny
Texas law requires drivers to move away from the nearest lane to stopped emergency vehicles — or slow to 20 mph below the speed limit. Fines reach $1,250 for a first offense and up to $4,000 if a death or serious injury occurs. As of September 1, 2025, the law was expanded to cover animal control and parking enforcement vehicles, according to TxDOT.
About 4.7% of all Texas traffic fatalities happen at roadside incident scenes each year. Legal experts say the commercial truck driver could face manslaughter charges if investigators find he failed to comply with the Move Over law. Jammer, the DWI driver who caused the first crash, also remains under investigation as the case develops, KWTX reported.
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