HARKER HEIGHTS (November 4, 2009)—Rookie Harker Heights police officer Jeremy Hempel was seriously injured Tuesday evening when his SUV hit a deer that bolted onto U.S. Highway 190 between Harker Heights and Killeen.

After striking the deer, Hempel’s vehicle veered into oncoming traffic and collided with a car driven by a woman whose name was not released.

Hempel was flown by helicopter to Scott & White Hospital in Temple where he was in stable condition Wednesday, Harker Heights Police Chief Mike Gentry said.

The woman was taken to Scott & White by ambulance.

She was treated and later released, Gentry said.

Hempel, who was on his way home from work at the time of the accident, has been with the department for less than a year and is still undergoing field training, Gentry said.

He is undergoing what Hempel described as “difficult treatments” and faces a long recovery, Gentry said.

He has shown significant improvement since Tuesday night, Gentry said.