Funeral services were held for fallen Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Erika Serrato on Tuesday morning at Woodlands Church north of Houston.
Serrato, 24, died in the line of duty on June 28 after being struck by a heavy duty commercial truck while directing traffic as deputies were conducting a DWI crash investigation on Interstate 45 North.
Serrato’s casket was transported by a funeral procession over 12 miles from Cashner Funeral Home in northern Conroe to Woodlands Church. The ceremony began at 10 a.m. and opened with remarks from Cpt. Jesse Razo and Pastor Dustin Reitzel.
Assistant Chief Deputy Rick Bass was visibly emotional while recounting the six years Serrato served with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office as a detention officer and commissioned deputy.
“Thank you for your service from all of us at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office,” Bass said. “Rest easy sister, we have the watch from here.”
Sheriff Wesley Doolittle delivered a similar speech as the last member of the sheriff’s office to speak during the service.
“Deputy Erika Serrato stood the line between danger and those she swore to protect,” Doolittle said. “She lived with courage, served with honor and loved deeply. Though her death has taken her from our sight, it cannot take her legacy. We will speak her name. We will remember her sacrifice.”
The funeral concluded with an outdoor ceremony, where Serrato’s family was given a burial flag and members of the sheriff’s office placed the deputy’s casket inside a hearse.
Ian Perez, 20, was charged with passing certain vehicles causing bodily injury in the aftermath of the crash. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says Perez was behind the wheel of the truck that struck Serrato.
Ashton Jammer, 34, was charged with driving while intoxicated after allegedly causing the crash that prompted a response by Serrato and other deputies. That collision also resulted in a criminal charge against Oluwatobiloba Sofela, 31, who was charged with collision involving injury and tampering with physical evidence with intent to impair, according to Houston TV station FOX 26.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is continuing its investigation into the second crash in which Serrato was killed.
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Publisher: Local – Houston Public Media