On Friday, February 13, 1998, at approximately 6:40 a.m., Deputy Rebecca A. Shaw, assigned to Patrol District IV, died as a result of injuries incurred when her patrol car was struck by a train at an uncontrolled railroad crossing near the intersection of Highway 290 and Becker Road. She was on duty at the time of the accident. Deputy Shaw was transported to Hermann Hospital by Lifeflight helicopter, where she died at approximately 8:40 a.m.

Deputy Shaw was 49 years old and a fourteen year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department. “She was very well thought of,” Sheriff Thomas said. “She was a field-training officer. She would train our new officers when they came to patrol, which says a lot about her.” Deputy Shaw was the first female to be killed in the line of duty with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department.