All main lanes of the Gulf Freeway south (I-45 S) were closed this morning near Almeda Genoa Road after a fatal head-on crash. A spokesperson for HPD said a Chrysler 300 sedan was driving the wrong way when it hit a police officer's Scion Xb head-on. Both drivers died at the scene. The officer who was killed was not with HPD, but a smaller local agency. The crash happened around 2:40 a.m. according to Transtar. The officer, who was apparently on his way to work, has not been identified yet pending notification of family members.
Update 1: The deceased officer has been identified as Joe Segovia with the University of Houston Clear Lake Police Department.
Update 2: Officer Joe Segovia was a father of nine children, the oldest child is 16-years old. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and celebrated his wedding anniversary over the weekend. He had been with the University of Houston Clear Lake police department for about a year. While Office Segovia was in uniform, because he was not technically on the job his family does not qualify for state or federal line-of-duty benefits that would otherwise be available. Donations are being collected for Officer Segovia's family. Make checks payable to: "Joe Segovia Fund" and mail to: UH Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Boulevard, Box 323, Houston, TX 77058-1098.
Update 3: the wrong-way driver has been named as Arnulfo Cerna. A 43-year old individual of that same name was apparently arrested in Liberty County for driving without a driver's license.
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| Photo credit: Houston Chronicle/Cody Duty |
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| Officer Joe Segovia, University of Houston Clear Lake P.D. |
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| Photo credit: KHOU Channel 11 News |
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| Photo credit: KHOU Channel 11 News |
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| Photo credit: KHOU Channel 11 News |
