Body cam video shows Houston police officer fall from freeway while avoiding suspected drunk driver

The Houston Police Department has released the body cam footage from the officer who fell from an exit ramp in late July after jumping to avoid a suspected drunk driver.

The video from Roshad Carter, 33, was shown at a news conference Thursday afternoon with his mother Debora present. The footage followed another video showing Carter recovering at home. His mother cried as Carter recounted the fall.

"I couldn't breathe," Carter said in the recovery video discussing his fall from the Southwest Freeway July 28. "All I could do was just pray that everything was alright. I couldn't feel my arms. I couldn't feel my legs. I couldn't feel anything in my body."

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Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo talks about officer Rashad Carter who was struck by a drunk driver while at the scene of a vehicle crash on Highway 59 during a press conference at the Houston Police Department Edward A. Thomas Building Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Houston. less Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo talks about officer Rashad Carter who was struck by a drunk driver while at the scene of a vehicle crash on Highway 59 during a press conference at the Houston Police Department ... more Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Body cam video shows Houston police officer fall from freeway while avoiding suspected drunk driver 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

Carter broke his back in numerous places, severely damaged his spine, and injured his left foot. He is not paralyzed and is expected to recover, his mother said.

Carter and fellow officer Carlos Herrera had responded to a crash on the Newcastle exit ramp at 2:55 a.m. and had used their patrol car to block traffic in order to investigate.

Despite the blockade, Bianca Bennett, 25, who was traveling 75 mph at one point, drove her Ford Focus around the patrol car and struck the car involved in the initial crash. The car careened toward Carter and struck his leg. He jumped the highway's cement barrier to avoid getting hit again. Carter fell 16 feet.

"Drunk driving is a selfish act," Debora Carter said Thursday afternoon. "You have to stay off the road when you're drunk. It's senseless. ... This is the kind of pain (Roshad) never experienced."

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Herrera also jumped over the barrier to avoid the car. He suffered minor injuries and was released from the hospital shortly after. Herrera is currently back at work.

Bennett was charged with intoxication assault July 28. Since the accident, the police department has been maintaining a list of locations where drunk drivers are coming from in an effort to crack down on businesses violating the city's liquor laws, said Houston police chief Art Acevedo.

"Too many people are over served in this city, this state, this nation," Acevedo said.