Officer, deputy fire chief, new father killed in Hunt County wrong way crash
Family and first responders are mourning a North Texas police officer and deputy fire chief killed in a wrong-way crash while driving home from work early Monday morning.
Austin Cooley, 26, was a deputy chief for South Hunt County Fire-Rescue and a police officer in Kaufman. Cooley was headed home early Monday morning after working the night shift when, according to Texas DPS investigators, his Honda Accord crossed into oncoming traffic on Texas 34 near Greenville and collided with a Dodge pickup truck.
Despite their efforts, first responders said Cooley died at the scene.
“He drives home through our district,” said South Hunt County Fire-Rescue Chief Ryan Biggers.
Biggers said a crew with his department was called to a crash at about 8:30 a.m., unaware at the time that they were responding to a call for one of their own.
“We realized who it was on scene. I saw the patch and then I saw his nametag,” said Capt. Tyler Ferrick with South Hunt County Fire-Rescue.
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The patch and nametag were part of the Kaufman police uniform that Cooley was still wearing on his way home from working the night shift.
“Today was a big loss,” said Robert Stagg, assistant chief of South Hunt County Fire-Rescue.
“It was one of those things that you don’t forget. You probably won’t forget,” said Dylan Seabolt with South Hunt County Fire-Rescue.
The Kaufman Police Department has a police cruiser parked outside its headquarters as a tribute to Cooley, who the department said joined the force in May.
“He worked very hard to get where he was,” said Seabolt.
With a passion for public service, the 26-year-old was described as a leader and mentor.
“Being someone close to you, a brother, it’s very different,” said Capt. Kiron Searl, with South Hunt County Fire-Rescue.
But it was his title off duty that Chief Biggers said made Cooley the proudest. He leaves behind a newborn daughter, a wife and a large family of first responders who are feeling a deep sense of loss.
“New father, baby girl, 3 months old,” said Biggers. “Our hearts are hurting, and they’ll be hurting for a while.”
The cause of the crash is under investigation.