Winnie, TX (April 25, 2026) – A reserve deputy constable was killed on Friday morning in a crash involving a commercial truck on Interstate 10 near Winnie.
The crash occurred around 7:41 a.m. near mile marker 830, east of SH 124 in Chambers County. Emergency units responded to the scene after a Mack truck struck the rear of a marked law enforcement vehicle that was positioned in the outside lane for traffic control.
The deputy, identified as 48-year-old Heather Avery of the Jefferson County Precinct One Constable’s Office, was pronounced dead at the scene. She was inside a 2022 Ford Explorer with emergency lights activated at the time of the crash.
The driver of the Mack truck, a 30-year-old man from Dickinson, was not injured. Eastbound lanes of I-10 were shut down, and traffic was diverted onto Texas Hwy 73 while crews worked the scene.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, and more details will be released as soon as they become available.
Our condolences go out to the victim’s loved ones.
Roadside Traffic Control Can Put Responders at Risk
Traffic control on highways often requires vehicles to be positioned in active lanes to guide or slow traffic. Even with emergency lights activated, these situations can remain dangerous due to high speeds and heavy traffic flow.
Drivers may not always react quickly enough when approaching stopped or slowed vehicles. Large trucks, in particular, need more distance to come to a complete stop, especially when traveling at highway speeds.
Work zones and traffic control areas rely on drivers staying alert and reducing speed. When vehicles fail to adjust, the risk of serious crashes involving responders and service vehicles increases significantly.
