THE WOODLANDS — Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy Erika Serrato died on June 28, 2026, after a commercial truck struck her while she directed traffic. The incident occurred at the scene of a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 45 North near The Woodlands Parkway.

Ian Perez, 20, was arrested and charged with passing certain vehicles causing bodily injury in connection with the incident that killed Serrato. Authorities allege that Perez failed to move over or slow down as he approached emergency vehicles at the crash scene. He is being held on a $10,000 bond.

Ashton Jammer, 34, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in connection with the initial crash that brought deputies to the scene. Another deputy was injured by debris during the crash and is expected to recover. The Texas Department of Public Safety is leading the investigation into the incident, and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office stated that additional charges could be filed.

Serrato was 24 years old. She had served six years with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, beginning as a detention officer before becoming a patrol deputy approximately six months prior to her death. Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle stated, “She was someone committed to public service since she was 18 years old. She was smiling, she was happy, and she was doing something that she loved to do in Montgomery County and in this community.”

A funeral procession for Serrato is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday at Cashner Funeral Home. The procession route will travel west on FM 3083 to Interstate 45, south on Interstate 45, and west on College Park Drive, concluding at The Woodlands Church at 1 Fellowship Drive. Law enforcement agencies will escort the procession and manage traffic along the route.