A police officer in Texas who was involved in a fatal DUI was fired the next day. The drunk driving accident occurred earlier this month and resulted in the death of a woman and her 13-year-old son. The officer involved had been on the police force for less than one month.

According to investigators, the officer had been drinking at a local bar and gave the keys to his truck to a friend. That action would have been a responsible one if his 23-year-old friend had not also been drinking. He also had a suspended license.

At about 2:45 a.m., the truck hit a car that was stopped on the side of the road. The car had a flat tire and the woman, 48, was changing it while her son waited in the car. During the impact, the mother of four was killed instantly. The car was propelled across traffic and burst into flames. The boy was inside and investigators said it was unclear whether the boy died as a result of the crash or from the fire.

Another of the woman's sons was on the phone with them a few moments before the accident and was on his way to help them with the tire. He arrived just after the crash.

The driver of the truck was taken to the hospital and then taken to the county jail. He was charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter. The former officer was uninjured and initially suspended with pay. After an internal investigation, he was let go.

The family of the deceased believes that the former officer should also face charges. While it is unclear whether the former officer will face charges, the family is still trying to deal with the loss of two loved ones. Even if no criminal charges are filed against the office, the woman's family could sue the officer for wrongful death if they believe he shares responsibility for causing the accident.

Source: KHOU, "Katy police fire young officer involved in double-fatal I-10 crash," Larry Seward, Jan. 13, 2012