HOUSTON — A Houston Police Department employee died while driving to work Monday as Hurricane Beryl brought heavy wind, rain and flooding to the Houston area, Mayor John Whitmire said in a news conference.
Whitmire said the employee, now identified as Information Security Officer Russell Richardson, 54, was on his way to work when he exited I-45 and ran into high water at the Houston Avenue underpass.
Richardson called his HPD friends for help, but when they got to him, it was too late.
Whitmire said he watched as Richardson's colleagues spent all afternoon recovering his body from his submerged car.
HPD Acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite notified Richardson's family of his death, according to Whitmire.
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Richardson was assigned to HPD's Office of Technology Services.
"We ask everyone keep Russell's family- his wife and children- and his co-workers and friends in your prayers," Satterwhite said in a post to 'X'.
Whitmire and other city leaders also paused for a moment of silence to honor Richardson during a news conference.