SAN ANTONIO — A drunk driver plowed into an SUV stopped at a red light, killing retired Converse Police Department Assistant Chief Rodney "Rex" Rheiner and injuring another person, the San Antonio Police Department said.
The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday on Friesenhahn and Nacogdoches Road on the city's northeast side.
Police said the Lincoln SUV was stopped at a light on Nacogdoches when they were rear-ended by a Toyota Tacoma going at a high rate of speed eastbound.
The driver of the Tacoma was originally pulled over by an SAPD officer, but took off. The crash happened near the traffic stop.
Rheiner was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, police said. He later died in the hospital.
The driver of the truck has been identified as Jeanne Coutros, 23. Coutros was taken into custody and later charged with Intoxication Manslaughter, authorities said.
The Converse Police Department issued a letter Wednesday afternoon in regards to the passing of Rheiner:
The Converse Police Department is saddened to learn of the passing of retired Assistant Chief of Police Rodney “Rex” Rheiner. Assistant Chief Rheiner was a valued member of the Converse Police Department and the Converse community as a whole.
Assistant Chief Rheiner served the citizens of Converse for 27 years. Beginning his career in August 1989, he worked his way through the ranks and was promoted to Assistant Chief in May 2007. Assistant Chief Rheiner retired in March 2017.
Assistant Chief Rheiner was a highly regarded leader and he affected the department in many positive ways. Being a graduate of the FBI National Academy and The Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, he was could always be found encouraging the officers, pushing them to better themselves and the department though training and education. He invested heavily in upgrading the equipment and technologies of the department, and was key in the development of our police department facility and our first communications center.
Assistant Chief was known as a strong man of both faith and family. There would seldom be a time he would speak to you without talking about the accomplishments of his sons or showing you a photograph of his grandchildren.
The loss of any life is sad. The fact that Assistant Chief Rheiner dedicated his life to serving the community as a law enforcement officer only to be killed by a suspected drunk driver while in retirement is truly a tragedy.