TEXAS DEPUTY INJURED, DRIVER KILLED IN CONSTRUCTION ZONE WRECK

A driver died after he slammed into the back of a deputy's car in a construction zone early Friday, KPRC Local 2 reported. Houston police said a red pickup truck bounced off a guardrail and hit the Precinct 4 deputy constable's sport utility vehicle, which was parked on the ramp from the West Loop northbound to the Southwest Freeway at about 3:15 a.m.

Deputy Tracy Shillock was working an off-duty extra job protecting construction workers on the ramp. Shillock was parked inside an area blocked off by orange safety cones. "It (the SUV) was marked with the departmental stripes and decals and lights," Precinct 4 Capt. Mark Hermann said.

Shillock, 47, was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital for treatment for broken ribs and a sore back and neck.

"The deputy in question was retiring in January," Precinct 4 Capt. Steve Whitton said. "He's well-liked throughout the department. It's a shame something like this happened so close to his retirement date."

Investigators said the pickup truck driver, 45-year-old Domingo Botello, was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Police said they suspect Botello was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

About three years ago, another Precinct 4 deputy was killed while protecting a work convoy. Deputy Scott Claborn was parked behind a work convoy on Beltway 8 when a driver hit his patrol car. The driver was drunk, officials said.

Patrol officers are normally parked on both ends of the work convoys.