Harris County Pct. 4 deputy hits and kills man who ran across North Beltway feeder, officials say

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A man is dead after he was hit and killed by a Harris County Precinct 4 deputy constable on the North Beltway 8 feeder road, officials confirmed.

Investigators believe the pedestrian ran out in front of the deputy just before he was killed.

The crash was reported just after 6 a.m. Tuesday on the North Beltway 8 feeder road eastbound near the Hardy Toll Road.

Pct. 4 officials said the pedestrian was walking on the inside shoulder of the feeder when he ran across the road, in front of the deputy's vehicle.

"He was just traveling down the road, on patrol, and the pedestrian ran out in front of him," Capt. James Blackledge said.

The pedestrian was described as a Hispanic man in his late 20s to early 30s. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"[The deputy] is visibly shaken. He's very upset. Just as I would hope any person would be or should be," Blackledge said.

Investigators said it was still dark outside when the crash happened and there is very little street lighting in the area. In addition, officials said the businesses nearby have large trees out front that block their parking lot lights.

"State traffic laws require that you cross at an intersection or a crosswalk. As you can see, we're quite some distance from the closest crosswalk," Blackledge said. "But either way, the deputy is still very upset."

SkyEye video from above the scene showed the deputy constable's vehicle with damage to the front end. Beer cans were seen scattered around the crash site.

"It appears he was probably carrying a case or more of beer across the road when he ran across," Blackledge said.

The medical examiner's office is investigating the crash and officials are working to identify the man who was killed. They will also investigate whether or not the man was intoxicated.

All lanes of the feeder road eastbound were closed for hours as officials investigated the deadly crash. The feeder road has since reopened.

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