DALLAS (1080 KRLD)- A Dallas officer has died after he was hit by a suspected drunk driver early Saturday morning, according to a statement from police.
Police said the incident happened at around 1:45 a.m. as Police Officer Mitchell Penton was blocking traffic for a crash in a northbound lanes of North Central Expressway at Walnut Hill Lane.
Officer Penton was standing outside his vehicle, which had its emergency lights on, when he was hit by a 32-year-old driver, identified as Phillip Mabry, who was going at a high rate of speed. Officer Penton was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Mabry was found to be intoxicated and arrested for Intoxication Manslaughter on a Police Officer (felony 1) and Intoxication Assault, as there was a female passenger in the vehicle, police said in a statement.
Mabry was seen by medical staff and has since been booked into a Dallas County jail. The female passenger was taken to the hospital with trauma to the chest and a face laceration.
Officer Penton joined the Dallas Police Department in February 2019 and had been assigned to the Northeast Patrol Division.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia issued a statement that read: "It is with a heavy heart that I announce that this morning at approximately 1-25 this morning an officer, working an accident scene, was struck and killed by a DWI driver. Our department is once again mourning, but we are heartened by the strength of his family. Godspeed my brother."
Garcia later issued a follow-up statement that read: ‘Our hearts are heavy right now. This young officer had such a bright future ahead of him. We asked that the community join us as we pray for the officer’s family. We would also like to extend that prayer to the brave men and women of this great department.”
Mayor Eric Johnson's statement: “Dallas mourns today over the devastating loss of one of our police officers. He died far too young, but the measure of a life is not longevity, but what someone does with the time they have. And this officer dedicated his time to serving our great city in an inherently dangerous job. We are forever indebted to him and forever heartbroken by this tragedy. I am praying today for his family, friends, and colleagues. I know our city will provide them with love and support as we seek justice.”