Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office mourns deputy killed on I-45 during crash response

CONROE, Texas - A Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputy was killed early Sunday morning while working a crash scene on Interstate 45 North near The Woodlands, according to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office said deputies responded to multiple 911 calls about a multi-vehicle crash near the Woodlands Parkway exit at about 2:39 a.m. on June 28, 2026. Deputies arrived and began assisting with what the agency described as a DWI crash investigation, including directing traffic. While deputies were working the scene, the sheriff’s office said a heavy-duty commercial truck pulling a trailer struck Deputy Erika Serrato as she stood outside her vehicle directing traffic. The truck also struck two marked patrol vehicles that had emergency lights activated. Serrato, 24, was assigned to District 2, the sheriff’s office said. She was taken to a local hospital, where she later died and was pronounced deceased. The sheriff’s office said she had been employed with the agency for six years. An additional deputy was injured after being struck by debris, the sheriff’s office said. He sustained minor injuries, was treated at a local hospital and was released. One of the drivers involved in the initial crash, identified as Ashton Jammer, a 34-year-old man, has been charged with driving while intoxicated and will be transported to the Montgomery County Jail, the sheriff’s office said. The driver of the commercial vehicle that struck Serrato was transported to a local hospital, and the crash remains under investigation, the sheriff’s office said. “Our hearts are broken today,” Sheriff Doolittle said. “Deputy Serrato made the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting our community. We ask that you keep her family, friends, and fellow deputies in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. We grieve alongside them.” The sheriff’s office said additional information, including funeral arrangements, will be released in the coming days.