Tex. officer dies in car wreck

The Associated Press

ABILENE, Texas — An Abilene police officer died today when another car slammed into his patrol car this morning.

The crash happened before dawn today on South 14th Street in southwestern Abilene, about a mile west of McMurry University.

Police reports say Officer Jeff McCoy was on routine patrol when an oncoming car crossed into his lane and crashed into the driver's side of his patrol car. That shoved the patrol car into a utility pole, killing McCoy.

Police identified the driver of the other car as 28-year-old Marcus Suarez. Police Sergeant Doug Wrenn says he was taken to Hendrick Medical Center for treatment of injuries. Wrenn says no decision will be made on charges until toxicology test results are available.

McCoy is the first Abilene police officer to die in the line of duty since 1954. He was an 18-year veteran of the Abilene police force and the married father of a 2-year-old daughter.