A suspected drunk driver struck the back of a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy vehicle as the deputy was assisting a motorist early Friday morning.

The deputy was traveling on Texas 105 in Beaumont whe he stopped to check on a person who was waving a flashlight at him about 2 a.m. April 22. The deputy turned on his emergency lights and stopped in the outside lane of the highway, according to information from JSCO Deputy Marcus McLellan.

While outside the patrol car he heard tires skidding and then a crash as the vehicle struck the patrol unit. Beaumont Police were called to the scene as the accident occurred in the city of Beaumont.

Both of the occupants of the vehicle reportedly appeared intoxicated and BPD arrested men, charging the driver with driving while intoxicated and the passenger with public intoxication.

The deputy was not hurt.

This is the second unit that has been struck by a suspected DWI driver in a two month period, McLellan said.