Montgomery County honors Deputy Erika Serrato after line-of-duty death

Funeral services for fallen Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Deputy Erika Serrato were held Tuesday morning in The Woodlands, where law enforcement officers from across Texas joined family, friends, and community members to honor the 24-year-old deputy killed in the line of duty last month.

Serrato died June 28 after she was struck by a heavy-duty commercial truck while directing traffic during a drunken-driving crash investigation on Interstate 45 North in Montgomery County.

Her casket traveled in a funeral procession stretching more than 12 miles from Cashner Funeral Home in north Conroe to Woodlands Church, where the service began at 10 a.m.

The ceremony opened with remarks from Capt. Jesse Razo and Pastor Dustin Reitzel before leaders from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office reflected on Serrato's service and sacrifice.

Assistant Chief Deputy Rick Bass became emotional as he spoke about Serrato's six years with the sheriff's office, where she served first as a detention officer before becoming a commissioned deputy.

"Thank you for your service from all of us at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office," Bass said. "Rest easy sister, we have the watch from here."

Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle delivered the final remarks on behalf of the agency, praising Serrato's courage and dedication to protecting the community.

"Deputy Erika Serrato stood the line between danger and those she swore to protect," Doolittle said. "She lived with courage, served with honor and loved deeply."

Doolittle said Serrato's legacy would endure within the sheriff's office and throughout Montgomery County.

Following the indoor service, deputies and family members gathered outside for a final ceremony. Serrato's family received a folded burial flag before members of the sheriff's office placed her casket into a waiting hearse.

Authorities say the events leading to Serrato's death began when deputies responded to a crash involving an alleged intoxicated driver on Interstate 45. During the investigation, a second crash occurred, fatally striking Serrato as she directed traffic around the scene.

Ian Perez, 20, was charged with passing certain vehicles causing bodily injury after investigators identified him as the driver of the truck involved in the collision that struck Serrato.

Investigators also charged Ashton Jammer, 34, with driving while intoxicated in connection with the initial crash that drew deputies to the interstate. A third individual, Oluwatobiloba Sofela, 31, faces charges of collision involving injury and tampering with physical evidence with intent to impair in connection with the earlier crash.

The Texas Department of Public Safety continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash that claimed Serrato's life.