In the early morning hours of Tuesday January 25, 1994, Deputy Ricky Yates was traveling east on F.M. 2090 from his home in Montgomery County. He was enroute to a Harris County school zone that had recently been the target of a complaint of speeders. Road and visibility conditions were poor due to a mist and haze. Deputy Yates, a motorcycle unit assigned to the Traffic Enforcement Division was driving eastbound when a truck traveling westbound attempted to pass another vehicle and pulled into Deputy Yates’ path causing a head-on collision. Deputy Yates was killed instantly. Deputy Yates, who was described as always giving 110% and who was a great friend to many, was 43 years old at the time of his death. Deputy Ricky Aaron Yates was the 23rd deputy to die in the line of duty.