By Rhiannon Saegert
The Bradenton Herald
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A Texas sheriff’s deputy has been fired and indicted by a grand jury in connection with a five-car wreck that killed his partner, the sheriff’s office said.
“The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has been informed that Deputy James Francis has been indicted by a grand jury in connection with a crash that occurred in Leon County on February 21, 2024,” the sheriff’s office said in a March 20 news release. “As a result of the indictment, Francis has been placed under arrest and terminated from his employment with Montgomery County.”
Francis, a 14-year veteran with the sheriff’s office, and Deputy Charles Rivette, an 18-year veteran, were transporting an inmate in a patrol SUV when the crash occurred, KHOU reported.
Just before 10:30 p.m. Feb. 21, 2024, Francis was driving a patrol SUV southbound on I-45 in Centerville, about a 117-mile drive north from Houston, according to KTRK and KHOU.
He struck an 18-wheeler ahead of him, triggering a five-car collision, officials said. A crash report said Francis “failed to control speed” when he struck the 18-wheeler, KTRK reported.
The impact threw Rivette, who was in the front passenger seat, from the SUV and into the northbound lanes, officials said. A truck then hit and killed him, the Texas Department of Public Safety told KHOU. The inmate was also injured, according to Houston Chronicle.
“The loss of Deputy Rivette is deeply felt by all who knew and served alongside him, and the events that followed have only added to the sorrow,” Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle said in the news release. “We stand firm in our responsibility to ensure accountability while also recognizing the gravity of this moment for everyone involved.”
His death was the office’s first line-of-duty death since 1876, according to the Houston Chronicle.
“This is a serious matter, and the Sheriff’s Office remains committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability and integrity,” the sheriff’s office said. “The legal process will proceed accordingly, and the agency will continue to cooperate with all relevant authorities.”
The exact charge has not been made public yet, KHOU and others reported.
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