HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A somber procession lit up the night sky as law enforcement agencies from across the Houston area honored Fort Bend County Deputy Kenneth Lewis.
The veteran deputy died Monday, two days after police say he was struck by a driver who fled the scene while Lewis was helping a stranded motorist.
On Monday night, Deputy Lewis’ body was transported from Memorial Hermann Hospital to the medical examiner’s office, escorted by officers from multiple departments paying tribute to one of their own.
According to the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office (FBCSO), Lewis was in uniform when he pulled over in his personal car to help the driver. He was then hit by a passing vehicle that sped off.
It happened at about 3:40 a.m. on Saturday on I-10 near Eldridge Parkway. Lewis was heading home from an extra duty, said FBCSO Chief Deputy Mattie Provost.
“That’s who he was, always wanting to help people,” Provost said and described Lewis as having a “heart of gold.”
“He was a talker. Every time I saw him at the office, he’d stop and talk to you for a while,” she added. “Everybody in the community where he worked loved him because he was just a great guy.”
Lewis’ three teenage children, 17-year-old twin boys and a 15-year-old daughter, were with him when he died, in addition to other family and friends, Provost said.
“As you can imagine, the shock they’re in right now. So, they’re just taking it day by day, and so we’ve assured them we’re here for them, and we will help them get through this as they will help us get through it as well,” she said.
Houston police are now searching for the suspect vehicle, described only as a black or dark-colored Honda sedan.
“I can assure you that we will solve it,” Provost said. “It will be solved, and we will bring the person to justice for Deputy Lewis.”
Lewis had served with the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office since 2015 and previously worked for the Missouri City Police Department.
Officials say that while he was performing a police function at the time of the crash, his death has not yet been officially classified as a line-of-duty death.
Anyone with information about the hit-and-run is urged to contact Houston police or Crime Stoppers.
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