A Texas police officer and veteran is being hailed as a hero who “sacrificed” himself to save the life of another from a speeder.
Sergeant Mark Butler of the Navasota Police Department was killed Wednesday when a bank robbery suspect drove on the wrong side of the road in a desperate attempt to escape from another pursuit police car, causing a head-on collision, officials said.
Witnesses say the heroic police officer intentionally put himself in the speeding woman's path to save other motorists on the highway.
“If it wasn't for the police officer, I don't think we would have made it out safely. He selflessly gave of himself so that no one would be destroyed.” Jonathan Crider told KBTX The tragic moments before the crash.
Kreider and his landscaping colleagues were directly in the path of the accelerating black Jeep Wrangler — until Butler steered his patrol car in front of them, the men recalled.
“He changed lanes five seconds before the collision. He didn't turn or brake. He sacrificed himself to save everyone behind us. I really appreciate his I’m grateful for life.”
Officials said Butler was not part of the police squad pursuing the bank robbery suspect at the time of the crash.
The tragedy began just 20 minutes earlier when College Station police made contact with a woman who was trying to cash a fraudulent check at a local bank.
The woman fled in a Jeep, and officers pursued her until they saw her driving south in the northbound lanes of Route 6.
They “terminated the pursuit,” but continued to “pursue the suspect who was driving the wrong way on Highway 6.” the department said.
That's when Butler “operated his marked patrol car, colliding with the suspect and preventing him from striking another motorist on the highway,” the newspaper said. Officer Down Memorial Page.
The woman, who has not yet been identified, died at the scene. Butler was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
“Today was a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers our men and women in the legal profession face every time they leave home for work,” said Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick. X said on Wednesday.
According to the Officer Down memorial page, Butler was a veteran of the United States Army.
He worked for the Navasota Police Department for almost four years.
The incident and possible check fraud are still under investigation.
