Drunk driver in custody after 2 officers were injured in southeast Houston, HPD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A drunk driver injured two officers working on a previous crash in southeast Houston, police say.

At about 10:50 p.m., officers were blocking traffic lanes on Almeda Genoa Road near Radio Road as CenterPoint Energy crews were working on a damaged utility pole from a previous hit and run crash.

One officer was sitting in her patrol car with the emergency lights on and another officer was standing outside the patrol car directing traffic, according to the Houston Police Department.

Alirio Perez, 36, was driving a silver Honda Accord eastbound on Almeda Genoa Road and disregarded the blocked roadway when he allegedly hit the patrol car, according to HPD.

“They (officers conducting traffic) heard his brakes screeching. They began to run away from the vehicles, and the suspect vehicle crashed into the police car,” said Lt. Ignacio Izaguirre.

One officer was thrown from her patrol car, and the other officer conducting traffic was struck by the patrol car as he attempted to get out of the way, HPD says.

Both officers were taken to a nearby hospital. One officer is still hospitalized after having trouble breathing shortly after the crash, and the other officer has been treated and released with minor injuries, HPD says.

Perez was also taken to a nearby hospital, where alcohol was detected in his system. Perez has been charged with a second-offense DWI.