Edinburg PD Car Hit By Drunken Driver

An Edinburg Police Department vehicle was hit by a drunken driver while the police officer was removing road debris after responding to another accident early yesterday morning.

On Sunday, February 5, 2023, at approximately 5 a.m. Edinburg P.D. officers responded to the northbound lanes of the 6000 block of N IH-69C in reference to an accident. A secondary unit arrived to assist with traffic control and remove debris from the roadway, which possibly caused the original accident. 

The secondary Edinburg PD unit was stationary in the inside lane while the officer exited the vehicle to remove a mattress from the roadway. Shortly thereafter, a vehicle struck the rear of the Edinburg PD unit.

The Edinburg PD officer sustained no injuries. 

The driver of the truck was identified as Raul Alberto Rodriguez. Rodriguez, a 52-year-old from Edinburg allegedly admitted to having been drinking and showed signs of intoxication but was unable to complete the field sobriety tests due to his physical state. 

Rodriguez was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated (Class A Misdemeanor) due to a previous conviction.