Waco, TX – A tragic incident unfolded Wednesday afternoon on Highway 6, resulting in the deaths of both a Navasota Police officer and a suspect. The crash occurred after a high-speed pursuit that began in College Station and ended in Grimes County.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the pursuit started around 3:15 p.m. when College Station police officers initiated a chase of a woman driving a 2023 Black Jeep Wrangler southbound on Highway 6 in Brazos County. The driver of the Jeep exited the highway at Farm-to-Market Road 2154, turned eastbound, and then southbound onto the service road of Highway 6. However, College Station police officers soon terminated the pursuit.
Despite the termination, the Jeep continued its erratic path, traveling southbound on the northbound lanes of Highway 6. The vehicle eventually entered Grimes County, where a 2023 Navasota Police Department Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by Sergeant Mark Butler, was traveling northbound.
The two vehicles collided head-on, with the Jeep striking the police Tahoe. Sergeant Butler was transported to CHI St. Joseph Hospital – Grimes Hospital in Navasota, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the Jeep was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the suspect, pending notification of family members.
The Texas Highway Patrol (THP) and the State Crash Team are currently investigating the incident. This ongoing investigation aims to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
