A Kaufman Police Department officer lost his life Monday morning in a head-on collision while traveling home after completing his shift. Officer Austin Cooley, 26, of Wolfe City, was driving northbound on State Highway 34 when his vehicle crossed into the oncoming traffic lane and collided with a southbound pickup truck near the intersection of County Road 2186, just south of Greenville in Hunt County.

The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that the crash occurred when Cooley's vehicle veered into the southbound lane, resulting in the fatal head-on impact. DPS has not released information regarding the condition of the pickup truck driver involved in the collision. Officer Cooley was pronounced deceased at the scene or shortly thereafter.

Beyond his role with the Kaufman Police Department, Cooley served as deputy chief for South Hunt County Fire Rescue and had previously worked as a Hunt County detention officer from 2020 to 2023. He is survived by his wife and child. The circumstances that caused Cooley's vehicle to cross the centerline remain under investigation by DPS.

Location and Infrastructure

State Highway 34 is a major north-south corridor connecting Kaufman County communities to Hunt County and the Greenville area. The stretch of highway near County Road 2186, located just south of Greenville, traverses a rural portion of Hunt County where the roadway accommodates commuter traffic between smaller municipalities and larger employment centers.

This section of Highway 34 is a two-lane undivided highway, meaning northbound and southbound traffic share the roadway with only a painted centerline separating opposing lanes of travel. Rural two-lane highways present inherent risks, as there is no physical barrier preventing cross-centerline incidents. Factors such as driver fatigue, medical emergencies, distracted driving, or adverse road conditions can contribute to vehicles departing their designated travel lanes. The intersection with County Road 2186 marks an area where local traffic may merge onto the state highway. Motorists traveling this route should exercise caution and remain alert for changing traffic patterns.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Texas law, when a motor vehicle accident results in a fatality, the Texas Department of Public Safety conducts a thorough investigation to determine contributing factors. Texas follows a modified comparative negligence system, meaning compensation may be affected by each party's degree of fault in causing the collision.

The surviving family members of a person killed in a motor vehicle accident may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 71. Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship and consortium, mental anguish, and funeral expenses. Texas law generally imposes a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death actions, beginning from the date of death.

Insurance considerations in fatal crashes typically involve the at-fault driver's liability coverage, underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage, and potentially the decedent's own policy provisions. Given the complexity of line-of-duty deaths involving first responders, survivors may also be eligible for state and federal death benefits separate from civil claims.

Related Resources

Local Emergency Services:

• Kaufman Police Department: (972) 932-3099
• Hunt County Sheriff's Office: (903) 453-6800
• South Hunt County Fire Rescue
• Texas Department of Public Safety – Highway Patrol

Traffic Safety Resources:

• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Traffic Safety Division
• Hunt County Road and Bridge Department
• Texas Municipal Police Association

Support Services:

• Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) – support for families of fallen officers
• Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force
• 100 Club of Texas – assistance for families of fallen first responders
• Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) – officer memorial resources

State Laws and Regulations:

• Texas Transportation Code – Rules of the Road
• Texas Department of Insurance – Auto Insurance Information
• Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code – Wrongful Death Statutes