An Odessa woman has been charged in connection to the September death of a DPS trooper in Ector County.
Laura Lorena Rodriguez was booked into the Ector County Detention Center Tuesday morning following a Sept. 17 incident that killed the trooper and injured an Ector County Sheriff’s Department deputy.
A news release from Sgt. Steven Blanco of the Texas DPS detailed Rodriguez, 50, was arrested at her home in Odessa by members of the DPS Texas Highway Patrol State Crash Reconstruction Team on charges stemming from the crash that claimed the life of Trooper Kevin Alexis Ramirez Vasquez. Rodriquez is now charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon Against a Public Servant — a first-degree felony. She was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Ector County Jail.
An affidavit shows she was driving 76 mph in a 65 mph zone and was also “manipulating” her cell phone in the seconds before the crash.
Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis on the day of the accident said Vasquez and one of his deputies were injured on Highway 302 near Notrees.
Griffis said the accident occurred between 8:30 and 9 a.m. in the westbound lanes of Highway 302, just east of Notrees. The deputy was assisting DPS with traffic control following an accident.
Griffis said his deputy is recovered and back at work. Vasquez was initially transported to Medical Center Hospital but was later airlifted to a Lubbock area hospital where he later died.
Tuesday’s news release detailed Vasquez, 25, was outside his vehicle investigating an earlier traffic crash along that road with Ector County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Justin Toombs, who was inside his patrol unit. Rodriquez’s vehicle hit Toombs’ patrol vehicle, which struck Vasquez. Deputy Toombs was injured in the crash. “Trooper Ramirez Vasquez suffered severe injuries and was taken to Medical Center Hospital in Odessa. He was then airlifted to a Lubbock-area hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on September 28. This is still an active case, and no additional information is available at this time,” Blanco stated in the release.
The news release also reminded drivers of the state’s Move Over or Slow Down law, which requires drivers to move over and put a lane between them and emergency personnel on the side of the road or reduce their speed to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit when passing law enforcement, first responders, tow trucks, utility vehicles, and TxDOT vehicles stopped with emergency lights activated. Violators face fines of up to $1,250 for a first offense, and there are stricter penalties for drivers who cause serious injuries — including possible jail time and fines up to $4,000.
Vasquez was honored when hundreds gathered at Community of Faith Church in Hockley on Oct. 3 to pay their respects to Vasquez.
His parents and three siblings were surrounded by family and friends as they said their final goodbyes to the young trooper who joined DPS in 2023. Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick both attended the services. They were joined by Public Safety Commission Chairman Steven Mach and Commissioners Dan Hord III and Larry Long.
“Throughout his young life, Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Alexis Ramirez Vasquez served his state and his country with incredible honor and dignity,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “Each of us in this department are fortunate to have served alongside him, and every day we will now work to ensure his memory lives on. We’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received since his passing, and I ask that you please continue to keep his family, friends and colleagues in your prayers.”
Vasquez began his law enforcement career when he joined DPS as a member of Recruit Class A-2023. He was stationed in Odessa. Trooper Ramirez Vasquez lived a life of service, serving in the United States Army prior to joining the department and serving in the National Guard.
Trooper Ramirez Vasquez is the 241st DPS officer to die in the line of duty since 1823.
