FORT WORTH, Texas — A Fort Worth police officer died Monday after being hit on the scene of a crash on Interstate 35W, the Fort Worth Police Department confirmed Monday.
The officer was identified as Sgt. Billy Randolph, according to a statement from the Fort Worth Police Department.
Sgt. Randolph was hit while responding to an initial crash where a tractor-trailer hit a barrier and caught fire.
The woman accused of striking him was identified by police as 25-year-old De Aujalae Evans of Fort Worth. Evans has been charged with Intoxication Manslaughter Causing the Death of a Peace Officer or Firefighter, police said.
Sgt. Randolph was standing on the exit ramp from IH-35W to Sycamore School Rd during the cleanup when Evans in a red 2020 Nissan Versa drove the wrong way up the exit ramp and struck Sgt. Randolph, police said.
"After she struck him, she continued driving trying to flee the scene. After about a quarter of a mile or so, she finally stopped, but then got out and tried to flee on foot, running from the scene," Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes said.
Officers on scene took Evans into custody and investigators believe she was intoxicated, Noakes said. He said a toxicology report is pending.
Randolph was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital, where he died from his injuries, according to the statement.
Randolph served as a member of the Fort Worth Police Department for 29 years and was recently assigned to South Patrol, according to the department.
"We have a lot of hard days in policing, but none are as hard as this," Noakes said in a press conference. "Sgt. Billy Randolph was and is a member of the Fort Worth PD family. He's a brother to us."
"Our hearts are broken," Noakes said. "Sgt. Randolph was one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever been around. “First of all he loved his family, he was a husband and a father, and they are grieving now.”
Robert Mitchell, representing Randolph's family, remembered Randolph as a family man and longtime public servant during a Monday press conference.
“Today we lost a good man. We lost Billy,” Mitchell said. “A faithful husband, father, grandfather, brother son, and a good friend to many of us.”
“Billy dedicated his life to his country and his community. He served four years in the United States Air Force. He served almost 30 years with the Fort Worth Police Department. He actually planned on retiring in a couple of years," Mitchell added. "He has been committed to serving his community and he has done so for over three decades in an honorable manner."
He said services for Randolph are pending.
The driver that hit Randolph is in custody and an investigation is underway, Noakes said.
Evans was booked into the Tarrant County Jail on a $750,000 bond.
“It was clear that there was an accident, it was clear that the road was blocked off and this person still ran through," Noakes said.
A procession from JPS Hospital to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Officer was held Monday morning.
The Fort Worth Fire Department also posted a tribute to Randolph on X saying, "Our hearts are heavy as we join you in mourning the death of Sergeant Billy Randolph. He dedicated nearly three decades to serving the City of Fort Worth. We’re grateful for his service, dedication, bravery and selflessness."
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker also issued a statement on Randolph's death on X, "This senseless act has left a void in our hearts and serves as a stark reminder of the risks our officers face every day to keep our streets safe."
A candlelight vigil for Sgt. Randolph will be held on Wednesday, August 14 (what would have been Randolph's birthday), at 7:30 p.m. at South Patrol Division, 3501 W. Risinger Road, where a temporary memorial is located.
Noakes said the vigil is the "first step" in how the department plans to honor Randolph.
Randolph's celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Christ Chapel Bible Church, located 3701 Birchman Ave. It is open to the public, but there will be limited seating inside the sanctuary. You can also watch the service live here.
The initial crash occurred around 2 a.m. on southbound I-35 near the Sycamore School Road exit, Fort Worth police said in a statement. The tractor-trailer hit a guardrail in a single-vehicle accident, officials said.
Bystanders helped the driver to safety with minor injuries, according to the statement. The truck caught on fire and spilled fuel in the roadway.
The southbound lanes of the freeway were shut down at Alta Mesa Boulevard for about three hours.