Accident claims life of deputy

A Tyler County deputy was pronounced dead at the scene of a one-vehicle accident Sunday, Jan. 21 on FM 1013 in Tyler County.

According to Department of Public Safety reports, Charles Emmery Haffa III, 26, of Woodville, died when his Jeep Wrangler hydroplaned and rolled over at the Turkey Creek Bridge.

Haffa was off-duty when the accident occurred. He served as a full-time detention officer and worked part-time as a deputy for the Tyler County Sheriff's department.

According to accident reports, Haffa was traveling east on FM 1013 "at an unsafe speed for the weather conditions at the time."

A DPS spokesperson said Haffa lost control of his vehicle, slid sideways and flipped off the bridge, landing upside down.