Deputy Erika Serrato, 24, died after a commercial truck struck her near The Woodlands.
THE WOODLANDS, TX — A Montgomery County sheriff’s deputy was killed and another deputy was hurt early Sunday after a commercial truck struck them while they worked a crash scene on Interstate 45 near The Woodlands, authorities said.
Deputy Erika Serrato, 24, died at a hospital after the crash, which happened while deputies were handling a suspected DWI investigation and directing traffic around an earlier multi-vehicle wreck. The second deputy was treated for minor injuries and released. Authorities said one driver from the first crash was charged with driving while intoxicated, while the commercial truck crash remained under investigation.
The first calls came in around 2:39 a.m. Sunday for a multi-vehicle crash on I-45 North near the Woodlands Parkway and Lake Woodlands area, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived, began checking the scene and helped move traffic around damaged vehicles. Less than 30 minutes later, authorities received another call saying two deputies had been hit by a different vehicle. Sheriff Wesley Doolittle said the agency was grieving the loss of Serrato, who had served the sheriff’s office for six years. “Erika was not just a deputy, she was family,” Doolittle said in a statement.
Investigators said Serrato was outside her patrol unit and directing traffic when a heavy commercial truck pulling a trailer entered the crash area. The truck struck Serrato and hit two marked patrol vehicles that had their emergency lights activated, authorities said. The impact scattered debris across the roadway. A second deputy, described by officials as a man in his 50s, was injured by flying debris. The commercial truck driver also was taken to a hospital. Officials did not immediately release the truck driver’s name or condition, and they did not say Sunday whether that driver could face charges.
The driver accused in the first crash was identified as Ashton Jammer, 34. Authorities said Jammer was charged with driving while intoxicated and was expected to be taken to the Montgomery County Jail. Officials have not released a full crash report, and several key questions remained unanswered Sunday, including how fast the commercial truck was moving, whether the driver saw the patrol vehicles and whether road conditions, traffic flow or impairment played a role in the second collision. The Texas Department of Public Safety was expected to be involved in reviewing the fatal crash.
Serrato was assigned to District 2 and had worked for the sheriff’s office for about six years. Officials said she began as a detention officer at the jail before moving to patrol duty about six months ago. Her death marked another loss for an agency that also lost Deputy Charles Rivette in a 2024 crash while he was transporting an inmate. That earlier death had been described as the department’s first line-of-duty death since 1876. County leaders and law enforcement agencies across the Houston region posted condolences Sunday as word of Serrato’s death spread.
The crash shut down a busy stretch of the North Freeway for hours Sunday morning and caused major traffic backups near The Woodlands. Northbound traffic was diverted at Rayford Road while investigators worked near the crash scene, and at least one southbound lane also was affected by emergency vehicles. Multiple damaged vehicles remained at the scene after sunrise, including a heavily damaged sheriff’s unit. Houston-area traffic monitors showed severe delays through late morning as investigators documented the roadway, removed vehicles and checked reports tied to the crash scene.
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough said Gov. Greg Abbott granted a request to lower flags in the county to half-staff in Serrato’s honor. The sheriff’s office said more information on funeral arrangements would be released later. Doolittle called Sunday one of the hardest days of his career and said Serrato served with courage. “There are no words that can fully express the grief our sheriff’s office is experiencing today,” he said. The department said it would continue supporting Serrato’s family, coworkers and the injured deputy.
The fatal crash remained under investigation Sunday, and officials had not released a final timeline or findings. Authorities said more details on the investigation and memorial plans are expected in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated Sunday, June 28, 2026.