HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A Harris County Sheriff’s deputy was hit and killed by a truck Tuesday after stopping to help with a crash on the Grand Parkway, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.
The deputy was identified as John Hampton Coddou, 50. He was a 20-year veteran of the sheriff's office after joining the agency in October 2003.
Around 9:30 a.m., a call came in about a minor crash along the Grand Parkway near Cumberland Ridge Drive in the Cypress area. Coddou, who was nearby, turned on his emergency lights and pulled up to the grassy area in the center median where the crashed vehicles were.
A white Chevrolet 2500 was nearing Coddou's patrol vehicle and attempted to swerve to avoid it. Still, the Chevrolet hit Coddou despite Coddou trying to get out of the way, the sheriff said.
Life Flight was called to take Coddou to the hospital where he later died.
The driver of the Chevrolet remained on scene to cooperate with the investigation. It's unknown if any charges will be filed.
Coddou wasn't a patrol deputy. He worked under HCSO's Violent Crimes Unit.
"It wasn't his regular assignment that day to be on patrol," Sheriff Gonzalez said. "He's an investigator but he saw community members in need."
Deputy Coddou served his country before the county. He was in the U.S. Army before joining HCSO. He first joined the agency as a detention officer in 2003 before becoming a deputy in 2005.
The sheriff said he was very well-liked and a "phenomenal individual."
He leaves behind a wife.
“It is a sad day in Harris County as we mourn the loss of a deputy who died in the line of duty. We share our sorrow with his family & his extended family, the women & men who put their lives on the line every day to keep our county safe,” the sheriff said on X.
An investigation into this crash is ongoing. The sheriff sid this incident should serve as a reminder for all drivers to slow down near crash scenes because it's the law.