Incident: Friday, September 18, 2026, about 12:20 a.m., Virginia Avenue, Tyler, Texas. Reported the same day by the City of Tyler and the Tyler Patrolman’s Association, with a condition update released Friday, September 25.
A Tyler police officer was on routine patrol, traveling south on Virginia Avenue, when a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into the patrol car, according to a statement from the City of Tyler.
The officer had to be cut out of the patrol car at the scene, KLTV reported.
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The Tyler Patrolman’s Association said the officer suffered a broken hip, a broken arm in multiple places, a spinal fracture, broken ribs and a broken clavicle. The officer was taken to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler and underwent emergency surgery. The association described the officer as stable, with additional procedures planned.
On Friday, September 25, the officer was transferred to a rehabilitation facility. Tyler officers lined up to see the officer off, KLTV reported.
Robert Ashton Fasang, 21, was arrested and charged with intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury to a peace officer. The Tyler Morning Telegraph reported that he was held on a $1 million bond at the Smith County Jail.
KLTV reported that the driver ran a stop sign at a high rate of speed.
The extent of the officer’s long-term recovery has not been released. A court date for Fasang has not been reported.
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