EAST TEXAS DEPUTY INJURED IN DRAGGING INCIDENT

An East Texas deputy's listed in good condition in a Houston hospital after he was struck and dragged more than 50 feet by an S-U-V he'd stopped early today.

San Jacinto County sheriff's officials say Deputy Sean Barnes was airlifted about 50 miles to Memorial Herman Hospital after the incident at the southern end of the county. A spokeswoman at the Houston hospital said he's listed in good condition.

Meanwhile, investigators say the suspected driver was found dead less than a mile from the dragging scene -- still in the S-U-V. No identity nor details of his death have been released. Sheriff's deputies say Barnes was driving with a passenger who was participating in a ride-along when he spotted the S-U-V being driven in the pre-dawn hours with lights off.

Barnes stopped the S-U-V and ordered the driver out when an argument began. The witness says the drive went back to the S-U-V, got a gun and began shooting. When Barnes took cover behind the S-U-V, the driver put it into reverse gear and dragged Barnes about 50 feet. The passenger -- who was a former sheriff's office employee -- got a shotgun from the patrol car and fired at the fleeing S-U-V.

No word yet on whether the man died by his own hand or from the shotgun blast.