Police vehicle fatally strikes pedestrian

KILGORE — A pedestrian was killed last month in Kilgore after falling from the bed of a pickup truck and being struck by a police vehicle responding to a crash, according to a report from the Texas Department of Transportation. According to our news partner KETK, the incident began when a driver of a pickup truck, believed to be intoxicated, was traveling north on State Highway 135 with a passenger in the bed of the truck in the early hours of April 18. The passenger, who was also reportedly intoxicated, had been asleep during the ride.

According to the report, the passenger woke up at some point, and around the same time, the driver missed an exit and attempted to make a U-turn. During that maneuver, the passenger fell from the bed of the truck onto the roadway. The Kilgore Police Department said they received an automatic 911 call from a smartphone, along with GPS coordinates for its location. Dispatchers sent units to the potential crash after they “could hear an unresponsive individual with labored breathing throughout the call.”

The crash report states that a person driving a Kilgore Police Department vehicle was traveling northbound on State Highway 135 en route to a crash and encountered the pedestrian—who was wearing dark clothing and no reflective materials—lying in the outside lane.

The driver did not see the individual in time and attempted to swerve left to avoid a collision but ultimately struck the pedestrian, the report says.
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Emergency responders pronounced the individual dead at the scene and an autopsy is pending. Authorities in the report noted the pedestrian had been drinking before the incident and had reportedly come from a bar.

Meanwhile, the driver of the pickup truck continued home before realizing the passenger was no longer in the truck bed. The driver then returned to the area, where the crash scene had already developed.

The Kilgore Police Department said the driver of the pickup truck, which belonged to the victim, Anthony Merritt, said he was looking for his friend. While speaking to the driver, officers noticed “several indications of intoxication and began a DWI investigation.”

The driver provided a voluntary blood sample to the police department and was not arrested at the scene. The Kilgore Police Department said they are awaiting the blood test results.

“For full transparency, Kilgore Police requested the Texas Department of Public Safety to investigate this incident,” the Kilgore Police Department said. “A specialized team of troopers responded to the initial scene, and their investigation continues. At Chief Hunter’s request, the Texas Rangers and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission are also assisting in the investigation. The investigation is ongoing and is being directed by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers.”

The Texas Department of Public Safety told KETK News that the investigation is still ongoing.