A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper died Saturday, more than a week after he was struck by a vehicle at a crash scene in West Texas, authorities said.
“Today is a very somber day, as our hearts weigh heavy in reporting the tragic death of Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Ramirez Vasquez,” a regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association said in a statement.
Ramirez Vasquez, 25, was working a crash at a State Highway 302 intersection in Notrees at about 9 a.m. Sept. 17. He was was standing outside an Ector County sheriff’s office vehicle talking to the deputy inside when it was struck by another vehicle. The deputy suffered minor injuries and was later treated and released. Ramirez Vasquez was taken to Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, then airlifted to Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock.
He died Saturday with his family by his side, according to the statement. Ramirez Vasquez is survived by his parents and three siblings.
The trooper was an Army veteran and served in the National Guard. He joined the DPS last year and was stationed in Odessa.
“There are no words to ease the loss of one of our brothers in uniform,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said in a news release. “Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Alexis Ramirez Vasquez served this state honorably to his very last breath. His commitment to keeping the roads safe, protecting the people of Texas and the sacrifice he made will never be forgotten.”
The DPS Troopers Foundation, established by the DPS officers association, is collecting donations through HelpAHero.com.
Funeral arrangements are pending.