JUNE 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 6.1

AROUND THE COUNTRY
TRAGIC ACCIDENT
Harris County Deputy Slams into Rear of a Parked18-Wheeler
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - A
Harris County sheriff’s deputy
has died after a crash with an
18-wheeler on State Highway 249
near Spring Cypress on Wednesday
May 11.
Deputy Robert Adam Howard,
was taken to the hospital in
critical condition, where he later
passed away from his injuries,
said Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
“Our hearts are broken as we
announce the passing of our Deputy
Robert Adam Howard, who
succumbed to his injuries after
a crash that occurred this afternoon,”
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in
a news conference. “Our hearts
are very heavy at this moment.
We’re devastated that we’re losing
such a great teammate, described
as a workhorse described
as having a great personality,
funny, and just outgoing, a wonderful
friend.”
According to the sheriff, Dep.
Howard was traveling northbound
on 249 near Spring Cypress in
his HCSO Chevrolet Tahoe SUV
to drop off some evidence at a
station.
There was an 18-wheeler, with
around a 40,000-pound load, that
was parked on the shoulder of
the roadway but was not blocking
a moving lane of traffic.
Investigators believe the deputy
clipped the rear of the
18-wheeler.
“For unknown reasons, our
deputy operating the vehicle
veered slightly into the inside
shoulder of 249, and unfortunately
the front driver’s side
of our police Tahoe impacted
the rear passenger side of the
parked semi-trailer,” said Lt.
Simon Cheng with the Harris
County Sheriff’s Office Vehicular
Crimes Division. “The deputy
sustained serious injuries on
scene. Unfortunately, his vehicle
after hitting the semi-trailer
also bounced into the second-from-inside
lane and struck
a Chevrolet Silverado.”
There were reportedly four
total vehicles involved in the
crash.
“It was a pretty horrific impact,”
Sheriff Gonzalez said. “He eventually
succumbed to his injuries.”
27-year-old Deputy Howard
was assigned to the HCSO Gang
Unit. He had been part of the
agency since August 2019.
Deputy Howard, who grew up
in Jersey Village, is survived by a
wife and two young children, a
2-year-old girl and a 5-year-old
boy.
“He leaves behind a wife, he
leaves behind a mother and father,
a sister, cousins, extended
family and of course, his family
in blue as well,” the sheriff said.
“I’m told that as he left his home
earlier today to get to work,
his last act was to play with his
2-year-old daughter, just carrying
her and embracing her.”
14 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 15