A member of the Lancaster Police Department will be laid to rest Thursday.
Officer Dustin Dodson, 25, was killed July 21 in a crash involving an alleged drunken driver.
Dodson had just finished his overnight shift in Lancaster and was driving along state Highway 67, about 16 miles from his home in Cleburne where he lived with his wife and three children, according to police.
Ricardo Espinoza, 22, of Alvarado, was arrested after the crash. He had reportedly fled the scene after the collision.
Police told NBC 5 that Espinoza crossed the center line of Highway 67.
A witness to the crash followed Espinoza and led officers to him, according to police.
Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church of Cleburne, 414 N. Main Street in Cleburne at 10 a.m.
Lancaster Police Chief, Larry Flatt told NBC 5, "Officer Dodson was an extremely young, energetic officer. He was real enthused about being in law enforcement. He told us during his interview it was something he wanted to do all his life. He was a proud servant for the city."
"He was really ambitious," said Fine. "He wanted to learn as much as he could doing police work. He talked to several different officers daily trying to hone his skills."
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"We're a close knit group of people," said Flatt. "When something like this strikes us, it's like losing a member of the family."
A trust fund has been established at Chase Bank and donations can be made to the Officer Dustin Dodson Trust Account at any local branch.
