Single father killed in head-on crash with off-duty officer

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An off-duty Houston Police officer was relieved of duty Friday after being involved in a fatal head-on crash that killed a single father, and alcohol may have played a role.

The crash happened shortly before 6:30am Friday on Beechnut near FM 1464 in Fort Bend County.

According to the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office, the HPD officer was driving an SUV when it crossed the center line, hitting head-on a Corvette driven by Brian Manring, 36.

Manring died at the scene. He was on his way to pick up Kadeem Graham, who worked for him.

"Everyday was a great moment. He always made you laugh. He was that one funny friend," said Graham.

More importantly, friends say, Manring was a good father to his 8-year-old daughter.

"That's what Brian lived for, to put a smile on Holly's face and she's not going to have that anymore," Taryn Keene, Manring's neighbor, said. "It's horrible. I'm crying for him and I'm crying for Holly."

An off-duty HPD officer is under investigation after he was allegedly involved in a fatal head-on collision in Fort Bend County.

At the scene, deputies detected an odor of alcohol on the off-duty officer. Major Chad Norvell said the officer refused a field sobriety test.

"Subsequently, we did get a warrant and did a blood draw from him when he was transported to the hospital," said Norvell.

"That makes it ten times worse. He's supposed to be protecting and serving," Graham added.

Instead, the officer, who is assigned to the Midwest Patrol Station, has been relieved of duty. Eyewitness News is not identifying the officer because he has not been charged.

VIDEO: Why wasn't officer suspected of driving drunk arrested?

An off-duty police officer involved in a fatal collision was not immediately arrested and charged.

"A little girl lost her dad and what are the consequences? When are they going to come and what are they going to do about it," asked Keene. "I want know."

The results of the officer's blood draw could take 2-3 weeks. Kate Ferrell, an attorney who works for Tyler Flood and Associates, a firm that specialize in DWI tells Eyewitness News. Waiting for test results to consider charges in DWI cases is not unusual in Fort Bend County.