Trooper Ralph George Zerda

Ralph George Zerda

Trooper Ralph Zerda and Sergeant William Kuhnle were killed when a drunk truck driver crashed his tractor-trailer into their parked patrol car at 3:00 am.

The officers were parked on the shoulder of westbound US 9 near Road 1604 after stopping another drunk driver. They were crushed between their patrol vehicle and the vehicle they had stopped.

The drunk driver was sentenced to two concurrent 10-year sentences in prison but was released after serving only four years.

Trooper Zerda had served with the Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol for five years. He was survived by his wife and daughter.