Houston police SWAT officer killed after crashing city vehicle in NW Harris County, authorities say

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A Houston police SWAT officer died in a fiery crash early Sunday morning after he hit a tree in his city-owned vehicle, according to authorities.

Houston police identified the victim as Sean McCreary, a senior police officer who had been with the department since 2011. According to HPD, McCreary was off-duty but driving his city-issued take-home vehicle.

He crashed into a tree in the median on Cypress Mill Place near Cypresswood. Records show it happened about a mile from his home.

On Monday, the scene showed signs of a fiery impact, including a charred tree trunk, broken glass, and crime scene tape. A makeshift cross made of burned branches and twine was placed in the ground near the tree the vehicle struck.

Lt. Eddie Cruz with the Cy-Fair Fire Department said the crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. When firefighters arrived, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. McCreary was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office was the first law enforcement agency to respond, Cruz said, but HPD's Vehicular Crimes Unit is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash since it involved a city vehicle, according to a department spokesperson.

McCreary was assigned to the department's Tactical Operations Division and was described by colleagues as a dedicated SWAT officer.

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