REPORT: A Houston police officer drowned after his patrol car became trapped on a flooded street

Tragic news out of Houston:

BREAKING: Houston Police officer drowns in Harvey floodwatershttps://t.co/Cv6zCGh44w

— St. John Barned-Smith ⚔️ (@stjbs) August 29, 2017

From the Houston Chronicle:

The officer, an HPD veteran who has been with the department for more than 30 years, was in his patrol car driving to work downtown Sunday morning when he got trapped in high water at I-45 and the Hardy Toll Road.

Search and rescue crews are currently recovering his body. The department has not yet formally notified the officer’s family.

“He was trying different routes, and took a wrong turn,” one high-ranking official said, asking not to be identified.

After getting trapped in high water, the officer tried to get out but was unable to.

Rest in peace.

This is heart breaking and scary how quickly a wrong turn can take a life right now https://t.co/GKCiP8Vo6l

— Tal Kopan (@TalKopan) August 29, 2017

So sad. R.I.P. https://t.co/uNlS1rsEd0

— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) August 29, 2017

Oh no https://t.co/NXwL5gb2Ue

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) August 29, 2017

But is Melania wearing the right shoes? https://t.co/DM9AjUXyKH

— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) August 29, 2017

Houston police, meanwhile, are living at their stations even though their families have been affected:

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Sam J.

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.@artacevedo: Our officers continue to sleep in our stations throughout the response phase.

— Houston OEM (@HoustonOEM) August 29, 2017

.@artacevedo: We know over 160 families of HPD officers affected by this situation. Many of these officers are still on the job.

— Houston OEM (@HoustonOEM) August 29, 2017

Amazing.

***

Related:

UPDATE: The floating fire ant colonies in Texas are growing… https://t.co/M6x2blIagp

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 29, 2017

WOW: Photo of ‘a grandma getting jet ski’d out of her home’ in Houston is INCREDIBLE https://t.co/7vGemIdHas

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 29, 2017

Hero volunteers in Houston are rescuing bats (they eat mosquitoes!) https://t.co/RChGEU6kDf

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 29, 2017