WACO, Texas (KWTX) – Two Texas first responders are dead after being struck by vehicles while working on the side of the road this past weekend.
A Montgomery County sheriff’s deputy and a Mabank fire chief, who also held a role with the city’s police department, were both killed while directing traffic.
Their deaths are renewing attention on Texas’ Move Over, Slow Down law, just as the Fourth of July holiday brings some of the busiest travel of the year to Texas roads.
The end of watch happened twice in one weekend.
Late Saturday night in Mabank, Fire Chief Charlie Woodard was hit and killed while directing traffic after the Mabank Rodeo. He also served as the city’s fire marshal and a Mabank police officer.
The next day, 24-year-old Deputy Erika Serrato with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was killed on I-45. Deputies said she was directing traffic around a crash scene when a commercial truck pulling a trailer struck her and two patrol cars, lights activated.
“Sad. And then, you know, it just makes me feel bad for them and their families,” said Sgt. Ryan Howard with the Texas Department of Public Safety. “The grievance and things, and it just holds a lot on you.”
Howard said it’s a mix whether drivers follow the Move Over, Slow Down law, something he said can result in tragic incidents like the ones from this past weekend.
“It’s mainly people not paying attention,” Howard said. “The slow-down, move-over law has been in effect for a while. We want people to move over, vacate the lane that they’re in. If they’re unable to do so, we want them to slow down 20 miles per hour below the speed limit.”
Howard said troopers see drivers blow past emergency scenes at full highway speed all the time.
According to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, from December 2025 to early June, 16 first responders have been killed after being hit by cars nationwide, with four of those deaths happening in Texas.
“Just imagine you’re on the side of the road changing a flat tire,” Howard said. “What would you want people to do? You want them to move over. You want them to slow down. You want them to give you space.”
Central Texas has lost people the same way.
In 2023, West volunteer firefighter Edward Hykel was killed on I-35 while working a wreck. A year later, tow truck driver David Holtz was killed on I-35 while helping stranded drivers.
“We hate to see these things happen, but when they do happen, it just gives us the opportunity to go out and, you know, preach more about why we need these laws in effect,” Howard said. “Extend the courtesy to others that you want for yourself.”
Howard said penalties for failing to move over or slow down start around $1,250 and can climb to $4,000 or more, plus possible jail time if someone is hurt or there’s property damage.
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