Sugar Land officer blocking previous accident along US-59 left hurt after crash, police say

SUGAR LAND, Texas (KTRK) -- A Sugar Land police officer is critical but stable after a crash along the Southwest Freeway overnight, authorities confirmed to ABC13.

Transtar cameras showed an active scene southbound on the Southwest Freeway at 90A.

Police told us the officer was blocking a previous accident at about 2 a.m. The driver involved in that crash hit some debris, lost control of his car and hit one of the inside walls, according to police.

The officer had come out of his vehicle to conduct a sobriety test. Once back inside his patrol car, which was parked in the emergency lane, authorities said a pickup truck crashed into it.

During a briefing Sunday at about 11 a.m., police said the officer was pulled out by other officers and performed CPR. He was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital by Life Flight.

While first responders were caring for that officer, police said a woman in a jeep hit that pickup truck.

The woman was also taken to a hospital by Life Flight.

The driver of the pickup truck was rushed to a hospital by ambulance and is expected to survive. He is being investigated for potential substance use.

The last update from police listed the officer in critical but stable condition.

The Sugar Land Police Department later identified the officer as Ruben Munoz. Munoz is a veteran officer who joined the Sugar Land Police Department less than a year ago after coming from the northeast area.

The crash closed the Southwest Freeway for several hours but was reopened in the afternoon.

Sugar Land PD is working with the district attorney's office to make sure the appropriate charges are filed.