Texas Sheriff's Deputy Killed in Head-On Crash

Oct. 29, 2014

Harris County Deputy Jesse Valdez III was killed when an SUV slammed into his patrol cruiser.

Source Houston Chronicle

A 29-year-old woman has been accused of drug possession after a traffic crash early Wednesday morning left a deputy dead when a sport utility vehicle the woman was driving slammed into the deputy's squad car in east Harris County.

Kelly Jo Ivey is charged with possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said the head-on crash occurred on East Wallisville Road near Honeysuckle Street. The deputy, identified as 32-year-old Jesse Valdez III was eastbound on East Wallisville and entered the intersection at Honeysuckle. That's when a Ford Explorer traveling westbound on East Wallisville crossed into oncoming traffic and smashed into the patrol car, deputies said.

Valdez' s cruiser ended up in a drainage ditch. Valdez was flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead about 1 a.m.

Ivey was rushed to Memorial Hermann Trauma Center.

Authorities said she showed indicators of impairment and a blood sample was obtained from her.

A passenger in the SUV was treated at the scene, though details of his injuries were not released. Investigators said he also has been charged with possession of a controlled substance. His name was not released.

Deputies said Ivey pleaded guilty in March to possession of a controlled substance and sentenced two-years in prison, according to court records. She was released from prison, deputies added, on parole this month, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Deputies said court records show Ivey also served time behind bars in two earlier theft cases.

Valdez, an 11-year-veteran of the force, was assigned to the District 3 patrol division and worked a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift. The deputy was a single father, said sheriff's spokesman Deputy Thomas Gilliland.

Deputies said Valdez is the 40th Harris County Sheriff's Office employee to die in the line of duty in the agency's 177-year history.

"We will never forget his service. We will never forget his sacrifice," Sheriff Adrian Garcia said.

Tribune News Service