Officer struck while escorting funeral procession dies

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Gray News) - An officer in Texas died more than a week after he was struck while conducting traffic for a funeral procession.

The Corpus Christi Police Department reported the death of Officer Vicente Ortiz on June 1.

Ortiz had been struck by a vehicle while conducting traffic control on May 21. According to a GoFundMe set up for his family, Ortiz was providing an escort for a funeral procession when he was hit and thrown off his motorcycle.

“We mourn the loss of a great husband, father, son, brother, friend, and co-worker,” the police department said in their Facebook post.

Ortiz was a 15-year veteran of the Corpus Christi Police Department. According to the GoFundMe, he leaves behind a wife and two children.

“Please keep Senior Officer Ortiz and his family in your prayers,” the department said.