Texas deputy dies after being hit by truck while helping during accident
Harris County Sheriff's deputies stand at attention as the body Deputy John Hampton Coddou is transported to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Houston. Coddou was struck by a vehicle while assisting at a crash scene on the Grand Parkway at Cumberland Ridge Drive on Tuesday morning, and was transported by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Medical Center where he later died. Credit: AP/Kirk Sides
HOUSTON — A deputy who was a 20-year-veteran of a Houston-area sheriff’s office died Tuesday after being hit by a truck while trying to help a driver following a minor crash, according to officials.
John Coddou had pulled over to help following the crash at 9:30 a.m. northwest of Houston, said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
A white Chevy truck that was traveling on the roadway swerved to avoid Coddou’s vehicle and veered onto the median, where Coddou was helping with the minor crash.
Coddou tried to avoid the truck but he was hit, Gonzalez.
He was flown by helicopter to a Houston hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Gonzalez said.
“Our hearts are broken, our spirits are crushed,” Gonzalez said. “It’s a sad day in Harris County as we mourn the loss of one of our deputies that died in the line of duty.”
The driver of the truck remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators, Gonzalez said.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez makes a statement as Deputy John Hampton Coddou is treated at Memorial Hermann Medical Center after he was struck by a vehicle, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Houston. Coddou, who was hit while assisting at a crash scene on the Grand Parkway at Cumberland Ridge Drive Tuesday morning, was transported by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann where he later died. Credit: AP/Kirk Sides
Caddou, 50, was an Army veteran and had been assigned to the violent crimes unit of the sheriff’s office. He was married.
Gonzalez said that Caddou could have decided not to stop and drive past the crash scene.
“But that wasn’t who John was. By all accounts, he was a public servant through and through,” Gonzalez said.
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