Source chron.com

Within just 3 hours of retiring and less than 24 hours after getting married, Galveston police officer Jeff Wyers died after a truck hit the motorcycle he and his new wife were riding.  The accident occured on Texas 146 Highway.

His wife, Crystal Robinson, improved from critical to serious condition, a hospital spokesman said today. She remains at the University of Texas Medical Branch, where she was taken Saturday.

Robinson, a former Galveston County sheriff’s deputy, suffered lung punctures, a broken leg, hip and ribs.

The couple had deep ties to the area law enforcement community. Wyers’ brother, J.T. Wyers, is a Houston Police Department homicide investigator. One of Wyers’ two daughters is a police officer in Galveston County, friends said.

“I’m just torn up by it,” said Galveston County sheriff’s Maj. Mike Henson, who was Robinson’s boss at the county jail for the past three years. She resigned just three days before her wedding.

Wyers, 48, and Robinson, 29, were married at 7 p.m. Friday at Jack Brooks Park on Texas 6 in western Galveston County.

Many fellow motorcycle riders, most of them police officers, attended on their bikes.

Less than a day later, Wyers’ motorcycle collided with a truck turning out of a business near the intersection of Texas 146 south of FM 517 about 3:06 p.m. Saturday.

Initial reports indicated that Wyers was not wearing a helmet but Robinson was, Henson said. The accident is being investigated by Texas City police.

Galveston Interim Police Chief Phillip Morris called the intersection dangerous.

“It’s pretty common knowledge that a lot of bad accidents happen with people coming out of the roadway,” Morris said.

The couple had just left their Galveston jobs so they could move to Kansas to be close to her family. Wyers had planned to sign on with the Kansas Highway Patrol, friends said.

Morris called Wyers — about 6 feet 5 inches tall and 300 pounds — a gentle giant. The Alabama native was liked and respected by fellow officers.

“Everybody who worked with Jeff really liked and cared about him,” said Freddie Poor, chief deputy for the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and the former Galveston police chief. “He was well-respected in the Police Department and in the community.”

Wyers told Morris to expect his resignation papers on Friday but ended up being too busy getting ready for his wedding. Morris received the resignation letter on his Palm Pilot at 12:19 p.m. Saturday.

Less than three hours later, Wyers was dead, he said.

“We were planning his retirement party,” Morris said. “It was scheduled June 30, so some people from out of town could be here.”

Robinson’s last day working in the corrections department at the Galveston County Jail was Wednesday, sheriff’s Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo said.

“She came up and gave me a big hug and said, ‘See ya later,’ ” he added.

Robinson ended a farewell e-mail to colleagues with “Life is short, take it slower – hear the music before the song is over!”

She most recently worked as a medical transport deputy who took prisoners to hospitals as needed, he said.

“She was well-liked an respected by the people she worked with and the inmates,” Henson said. “She took her job very seriously.”

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