Texas Trooper Seriously Injured in Fatal Head-On Crash
What to Know
- The crash happened around 7:36 a.m. on June 23, five miles east of Alpine, Texas.
- A 2022 GMC Sierra drove into the eastbound lane, colliding head-on with a patrol vehicle traveling westbound.
- Erik Alberto Hernandez, the driver of the Sierra, was pronounced dead at the scene.
ALPINE, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety has released additional information about a fatal head-on crash involving a DPS trooper.
According to DPS, the fatal two-vehicle collision occurred about 7:36 a.m. Tuesday, June 23, on U.S. Highway 67, five miles east of Alpine in Brewster County. DPS said Erik Alberto Hernandez, 28, of Monahans, was pronounced dead at the crash scene.
According to the preliminary DPS report, a 2022 GMC Sierra pickup was traveling west on U.S. Highway 67. A 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe patrol vehicle was traveling east on U.S. 67.
For reasons still under investigation, the driver of the GMC Sierra drove into the eastbound lane and collided head-on with the Chevy Tahoe patrol vehicle. Both vehicles came to rest in the roadway.
The driver of the patrol vehicle, DPS Trooper Zachary Vasquez, sustained serious injuries and was transported by helicopter to University Medical Center in El Paso for medical treatment. Vasquez is listed in stable condition. A DPS K-9 also was inside the patrol vehicle at the time of the crash and was not injured.
The crash remains under investigation. No additional information has been released.
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