North Texas sergeant dies after off-duty motorcycle accident

TERRELL, Texas – The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of its employees after a department sergeant died Sunday.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, 37-year-old Sergeant Daniel E. VanHuss rode his motorcycle at an unsafe speed into a curve near the intersection of TX-34 and N Frances St in Terrell, Texas on Saturday.

According to DPS, VanHuss was off-duty at the time and failed to negotiate the curve safely, causing him and his passenger, 31-year-old Alyson Hibdon, to run off the road, hit a median and overturn the motorcycle. Officers arrived at the scene at approximately 9:36 p.m.

Both VanHuss and Hibdon were transported to Baylor Sunnyvale, but VanHuss was later flown by helicopter to Baylor Dallas. VanHuss succumbed to his injuries around 1 a.m. Sunday.

According to DPS, Hibdon is still in the hospital.

According to the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant II Daniel Van Huss has been with the sheriff’s office since 2009. He rose through the ranks, becoming deputy in 2011, corporal in 2013, and sergeant later that same year. VanHuss was promoted to Sergeant II on July 15, 2024, just five days before the crash.

The Texas Municipal Police Association released a statement on VanHuss’s death:

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden and tragic loss of Kaufman County Sgt. and TMPA member Daniel Van Huss, who was involved in an off-duty traffic accident.

Sgt. Van Huss dedicated his life to serving and protecting his community and his loss is deeply regretted by all who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time.”

The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to keep his family in mind and pray for them.

According to DPS, the accident is still under investigation.