Share
Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
BRIDGEPORT -- A Bridgeport police officer was killed Thursday afternoon when a sport utility vehicle rear-ended his patrol cruiser as he was trying to direct traffic away from an oncoming traffic pursuit, the Department of Public Safety reported.
Officer Randy White had waved over a pickup hauling a trailer on Texas 114 near the intersection of Farm Road 2123. He was seated in his cruiser about 3:15 p.m. when a Suburban rammed his car, Senior DPS Trooper Gary M. Rozzell said.The impact shoved the cruiser into the back of the trailer, killing White.The driver of the Suburban, identified as Steven York, was flown to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. where he was placed under armed guard, police said. York was listed in fair condition late Thursday, a hospital spokeswoman said.He faces a capital murder charge and bail has been set at $1 million.The driver of the trailer was unhurt, according to Amber Fogelman, city of Bridgeport spokeswoman. York was being pursued by DPS troopers and Wise County sheriff's deputies, Rozzell said. That chase had started when a sergeant with the Wise County Sheriff's Office tried to pull York over after a hit-and-run accident on U.S. 287 in Decatur, Fogelman said. York was then driving a white pickup, Rozzell said.York sped away from the sergeant, and was traveling south on Farm Road 51 when the officer lost sight of him, according to authorities.A short while later, another Wise County deputy spotted York, now driving a Suburban, and the pursuit began again. DPS troopers were called to assist in the chase and three Bridgeport police officers were also summoned.York had not made it past the Bridgeport city limits at that point, Fogelman said. Police officers were warning motorists and residents to get out of the way and preparing to join the chase, Fogelman said. White had "waved the truck driver over to get him out of the way" when he was hit, Rozzell said.York is known to Wise County authorities, Rozzell said. No details about that were immediately available.White was a five-year veteran of the Bridgeport Police Department, Fogelman said. He was married with a 5-year-old daughter.Texas Rangers and the Wise County sheriff's department are investigating.MITCH MITCHELL, 817-390-7752
@Nyx.CommentBody@