Erath County Deputy Critically Injured In Deadly Head-On Crash

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STEPHENVILLE (CBSDFW.COM) - An Erath County Sheriff's Deputy is in critical condition after suffering internal injuries and broken bones after being in a  head-on crash while on duty just after midnight Friday morning.

Sheriff Tommy Bryant says Deputy Dustin Paulsen, 40, had surgery and will need more surgeries.

The Sheriff says Paulsen and the night shift supervisor were going to call on Highway 281 after someone called 911.  The 911 operator could hear a woman screaming in the background.

While on the way to the call, another vehicle crossed into the deputy's lane and hit him head-on.

There were three people in the other vehicle.  The driver died at the scene.  Two others were rushed to the hospital via CareFlite.  All three were ejected from the vehicle.

The Sheriff says he doesn't believe there is dash cam video. He says Deputy Paulsen wasn't running with lights and sirens at the time.

Paulsen has been with the Erath County Sheriff's Department for a year.

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