One week after a Lancaster police officer on his way home from work was killed by a suspected drunken driver, an on-duty Waxahachie officer has died after a crash in which alcohol is believed to have been a factor.
Waxahachie officer Josh Williams, an Arlington resident, died early Saturday in a two-vehicle accident that happened as he was responding to a disturbance at a fast food restaurant, the city said in a news release. Williams' patrol car was struck on the passenger side by an SUV that was being driven without its headlights on.
Williams, 44, a 17-year veteran of the department, was transported to Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas and remained in custody this morning.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the accident, the city said.
Williams is survived by his wife and three children.
“Josh was very well known and well liked in our community," Police Chief Chuck Edge said in a statement. "He was a great guy and a great officer. His death is a tremendous loss for the Waxahachie Police Department and the community."
Lancaster police officer Dustin Dodson, 25, died July 21 after a crash on U.S. 67 near Venus. Like Williams, he left behind a wife and three children.
Ricardo Espinoza, 22, of Alvarado was arrested the same day in connection with the crash.
Stop the madness. Revoke the driver license of anyone convicted of DWI. It is a license to kill.
Posted by: Giovani | July 28, 2012 at 02:54 PM
He was great. I'll miss the times I rode with him in his patrol car. I love you man.
Posted by: Robert | July 29, 2012 at 01:58 PM
May the Lord bring peace and comfort to those that knew and loved him. May Jesus surround and protect all of our Law Enforcement men and women that serve to protect our communities. They put their lives on the line for all of us. You may be unseen to our eyes, but not our hearts. God Bless.
Posted by: Rhonda Reyna | July 30, 2012 at 05:00 AM