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.
-Patrick M. Walker