Off-Duty Police Officer Charged With Causing Fatal Williamson County Crash

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX -- An off-duty police officer from El Paso has been charged with causing a deadly crash Tuesday morning near Jarrell, according to media reports.

The four-vehicle crash shut down the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 for several hours early this morning at about 4:30 a.m. the Texas Department of Public Safety said the wreck involved four different vehicles, including three tractor trailers.

According to DPS officials, the driver of a white Hyundai -- an off-duty El Paso police officer identified as Alan Eduardo Dieguez -- was driving at more than 100 mph when he rear-ended one of the tractor trailers, KEYE-TV and other media outlets reported.

The driver of the truck pulled over to check on Dieguez, the news station reports. Suddenly, a second tractor trailer came along, hitting debris in the roadway that caused it to skid on the road -- killing the truck driver who had tried to check if the officer was okay.

A third tractor trailer drove past, also hitting debris and catching on fire after the impact, the news station reported.

DPS identified the officer involved in the multi-vehicle crash. El Paso Police officials later said he has been with the force for three years, and has been placed on administrative leave.

Dieguez has reportedly been booked into the Williamson County Jail, charged with DWI and a misdemeanor charge of unlawful carrying of a weapon.

DPS officials closed the northbound lanes of the highway as a result of the crash, but have since re-opened them for motorist access. However, the northbound access road remains closed.

Earlier, Williamson County spokeswoman said the affected portion of I-35 was closed as a result of the crash, but was re-opened just before noon on Tuesday. Motorists had been urged to take SH 195 to SH 190 back to I-35 in order to avoid the area altogether.

Jarrell is a city in Williamson County located about 12 miles north of Georgetown, or about 38 miles north of Austin.