Police Officer Winston James Rawlins

Winston James Rawlins

Officer Winston Rawlins was killed by a fireball that resulted from an accident in which a gasoline truck was struck by a tractor-trailer in the 9000 block of South Loop East.

Officer Rawlins was conducting a traffic stop when traffic began to back up. A gasoline truck had slowed down due to traffic and stopped in traffic next to Officer Rawlins. A tractor-trailer then struck the right side of the gasoline truck then, striking Officer Rawlins and killing him. When Officer Rawlins observed the impending accident, he was able to push the citizen to safety. When the tractor-trailer struck the gasoline truck, a fireball erupted, and Officer Rawlins was trapped in it.

Later that day, Houston Police Officer William DeLeon was struck and killed on his motorcycle by a speeding motorist.

Officer Rawlins had been with the Houston Police Department for two years. He was survived by his two daughters, parents, and two brothers.