A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper who had only recently fulfilled his dream of joining the force died in a fiery crash while responding to an emergency call Monday night, officials confirmed.
Trooper Jerry Wayne Adamick Jr., 44, was killed when his patrol vehicle left the roadway, struck a tree and caught fire on FM 945 South in San Jacinto County. The crash occurred around 9:15 p.m. on September 15, 2025, and Adamick was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Our hearts are broken today,” said DPS Colonel Freeman F. Martin in a statement Tuesday. “Trooper Adamick bravely served our country for many years, and we were proud to have him choose to continue his service as part of the DPS family. He had so much life ahead of him, and today we grieve with his family and friends.”
From Military Service to State Trooper
Before donning the tan uniform of the Texas Highway Patrol, Adamick had dedicated more than two decades of his life to military service. The 44-year-old veteran completed multiple overseas tours during his 20-year career in the United States Army.
His transition to law enforcement came recently. Adamick was a member of Texas DPS Class A-2024 and had received the Veterans National Defense Award just this past June. According to family members, becoming a state trooper represented the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition.
What drives someone to pursue a dangerous profession after already completing a full military career? For Adamick, it appears the call to public service remained strong even after hanging up his Army uniform.
At the time of his death, Adamick was stationed in Coldspring, a small community in San Jacinto County about 60 miles northeast of Houston. He leaves behind his wife Roxanne and five adult children.
A Growing List of Fallen Officers
Adamick’s death marks a somber milestone for the department. He becomes the 242nd Texas DPS officer to die in the line of duty since the agency’s establishment in 1823.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation. Officials haven’t released details about the emergency call Adamick was responding to when the accident occurred, nor have they identified potential factors that might have contributed to the vehicle leaving the roadway.
Fellow troopers and local residents have already begun creating impromptu memorials near the crash site, with flowers and flags appearing along the rural stretch of FM 945 where Adamick spent his final moments serving the public.
In the coming days, the department is expected to announce funeral arrangements with full honors for the fallen trooper, continuing a solemn tradition that has become all too familiar for the law enforcement community across Texas.
