The 24-year-old Officer Erika Serrato died after being struck by a commercial truck while directing traffic during the investigation of a crash involving alleged DWI on Interstate 45 North. Her funeral was held this Tuesday at Woodlands Church.
Relatives, colleagues, and Montgomery County officials bid farewell this Tuesday to Officer Erika Serrato, who died in the line of duty after being struck while working at the scene of a crash on Interstate 45 North.
Serrato, 24, was a member of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Her funeral was held at Woodlands Church, north of Houston, after a funeral procession that traveled more than 12 miles from Cashner Funeral Home in northern Conroe.
Erika Serrato served in the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Serrato died on June 28 after being struck by a heavy commercial truck while directing traffic at a scene where officers were investigating a crash related to alleged driving while intoxicated (DWI).
During the service, commanders from the Sheriff’s Office recalled Serrato’s six years of service as a detention officer and subsequently as a commissioned officer.
Captain Jesse Razo and Pastor Dustin Reitzel opened the ceremony, which began at 10 a.m. Deputy Chief Rick Bass spoke about Erika Serrato’s service and thanked her for her work within the agency.
The procession left Conroe for The Woodlands
Serrato’s casket was transported in a procession from Cashner Funeral Home, in northern Conroe, to Woodlands Church.
The ceremony brought together family, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office personnel, and members of public safety agencies who attended to accompany the deputy’s family.
Sheriff Wesley Doolittle also spoke during the service and highlighted Serrato’s work as part of the force. At the end of the ceremony, the family received a funeral flag during an outdoor event.
After the service, members of the Sheriff’s Office placed Serrato’s casket inside a hearse.
Family of Lorenzo Salgado devastated, demands investigation after death in ICE operation
The crash occurred during an investigation on I-45 North
Serrato’s death occurred while officers were responding to a crash involving alleged DWI on Interstate 45 North.
According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Ian Perez, 20, was driving the truck that struck Serrato. Perez was charged with driving in a manner that caused bodily injuries to others in the crash.
Ashton Jammer, 34, was charged with driving while intoxicated after allegedly causing the initial crash that led Serrato and other deputies to respond to the scene.
Authorities also reported charges related to the initial crash against another person identified as Oluwatobiloba Sofela, 31.
DPS continues to keep the investigation open into Erika Serrato’s death
The Texas Department of Public Safety continues to investigate the second crash in which Serrato lost her life.
So far, authorities have identified the truck driver and the driver accused of causing the initial crash. Erika Serrato’s case remains active as DPS reviews the circumstances of the crash and the emergency response on I-45 North.
