A Harris County jury on Friday convicted 24‑year‑old Omar Jose Alvarado on two counts of intoxication manslaughter in the 2024 Katy Freeway crash that killed Harris County Precinct 5 Deputy Constable Katherine Hutson and her 8‑year‑old daughter, Kacey. The fiery collision on the I‑10 Katy Freeway, which prosecutors said was caused by an impaired driver, has now moved into its next phase, with sentencing still to be scheduled.
Jury Convicts Driver
According to FOX 26 Houston, jurors found Alvarado guilty on two counts of intoxication manslaughter, one tied to the death of a peace officer and the other tied to the death of Hutson's young daughter. The outlet reported that it was in the courtroom when the verdict was read and that the judge has not yet set a sentencing date. FOX 26 also noted that jurors reached their decision after several days of testimony and evidence in the 228th District Court.
How The Crash Unfolded
As detailed by the City of Houston, the crash happened on November 22, 2024, on westbound I‑10. Investigators said a gray Mazda 3 slammed into a marked Chevrolet Impala that was providing traffic control for a construction crew. The force of the impact pushed the Impala into a stationary TxDOT truck and sparked a fire that killed Hutson and her daughter at the scene.
The city's release stated that a 25‑year‑old passenger in the Mazda suffered non‑life‑threatening injuries. Investigators determined the Mazda's driver was impaired at the time of the crash.
Trial And What Comes Next
The trial opened this week and featured testimony from Precinct 5 deputies and other witnesses, according to Click2Houston. Prosecutors told jurors they would present evidence that Alvarado was driving under the influence when the Mazda struck Hutson's patrol vehicle.
A formal sentencing date has not been announced, as reported by FOX 26 Houston.
Legal note
State lawmakers passed Senate Bill 745 in 2025 to increase penalties in certain intoxication manslaughter cases, including incidents in which on‑duty first responders or multiple people are killed. The enrolled bill took effect on September 1, 2025, and specifies that the change applies only to offenses committed on or after that date, so the November 22, 2024 crash is governed by the law in place at the time, according to the bill text.
Legislative analysis from that period notes that intoxication manslaughter under the earlier statute was generally treated as a second‑degree felony, with a potential prison range that could reach up to 20 years.
Pct. 5 Mourns A Longtime Officer
Colleagues remembered Hutson as an 18‑year Precinct 5 veteran and a single mother who often picked up extra employment shifts, Houston Chronicle reporting noted.
Hoodline's earlier coverage documented the immediate aftermath of the crash and the local outpouring of grief; see Houston deputy and daughter killed for that background. Family statements about the verdict were not immediately available, according to local reporting.
