Duty Death: Kenneth Hubert Maltby - [Comanche ]
End of Service: 07/09/2016
Abilene Reporter-News
COMANCHE, Texas — An Eastland County sheriff’s deputy was killed in a head-on collision Wednesday south of Eastland, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Kenneth Hubert Maltby, 73, who was on duty, was driving west on FM 570 at about 8 a.m. when the driver of an eastbound pickup swerved into the westbound lane and struck Maltby’s SUV head-on, the DPS said in a news release.
The pickup driver, 23-year-old Colton James Conger, of Eastland, had swerved to avoid hitting a third vehicle on the road, DPS said. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, according to the release.
Maltby was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was taken to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy, according to a statement by Eastland County Sheriff Wayne Bradford.
Maltby had been employed with the Eastland County Sheriff’s Office since May 2014. He had also worked in Stephenville and Comanche, among other stops in his law enforcement career.
A number of area police departments, including those in Comanche and De Leon, took to social media to express sympathy to Maltby’s family and friends.
“The Comanche Police Department shares in mourning the passing of Eastland County Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Hubert Maltby,” the Comanche Police Department posted on Facebook. “Deputy Sheriff Maltby honorably served the state of Texas as a peace officer and criminal investigator in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, Erath County, Comanche County and Eastland County. He was well-respected and admired by all those who served with him. Throughout his career, Deputy Sheriff Maltby exhibited a steadfast commitment to protecting the people of the state of Texas. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”
The Officer Down Memorial Page also posted about Maltby on its Facebook page.