The suspect was arrested and charged with manslaughter while intoxicated and three counts of assault while intoxicated.
LAKE WORTH, Texas – An Euless officer on duty was killed in a crash caused by an alleged drunk driver in Lake Worth Saturday afternoon, according to police.
Lake Worth police said the collision between the two vehicles happened around 1:30 p.m. at Boat Club Road and Rocky Point Trail.
According to police, callers reported that the suspect tried to flee the scene of the collision but was prevented by bystanders. Police said the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Dylan Molina, had a strong “smell of alcohol”.
While the suspect was in custody, police said the Lake Worth Fire Department worked to rescue victims trapped in one of the vehicles.
The driver, who was later identified as Euless Police Department detective Alejandro “Alex” Cervantes, died at the scene, according to police. One woman, Cervantes’ wife, was taken to hospital with “critical, life-threatening injuries”, while two children were hospitalized with serious injuries.
“Alex has served honorably with our Police Department for nearly seven years and is a member of our Police Department Honor Guard,” police officer Euless said in a statement Saturday. “Please keep Alex’s family, friends, colleagues and Euless community in your thoughts and prayers during this extremely difficult time.”
Before joining Police Euless, Cervantes spent eight years with the El Paso Police Department.
“Just a great man…if you have kids, you want your son to grow up like that,” Euless Sheriff Mike Brown said at a news conference Sunday. “I’ve never heard a single negative word in his month about anyone or anything.”
“My heart breaks for Detective Cervantes’ family, colleagues, and Euless community. The Lake Worth Police Department joins you in mourning the tragic loss of a hero. We will investigate this crime. to the fullest extent of the law and arrest all those who contributed to Sheriff JT Manoushagian, Lake Worth Police Chief JT Manoushagian said in a statement Saturday.
Lake Worth police told WFAA that the suspect had been drinking at a nearby Fuzzy’s Taco store and that he crashed into another vehicle before the fatal crash.
According to police, Molina ran a red light and crashed into the driver’s side of the victim.
Lake Worth police said Molina was charged with manslaughter while intoxicated and three counts of assault while intoxicated.
Prison records show that Molina was also charged with an accident related to the death. He remains in the Tarrant County Jail on a $300,000 deposit.
