Deputy charged with DWI
Five-year veteran resigns after accident
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

A Wharton County deputy has resigned after being arrested for driving while intoxicated following a two-vehicle collision in Wharton.

Andrew VanVickle, 47, 510 Old Caney Rd., was booked into Wharton County Jail at 4:03 p.m. on Dec. 30 for driving while intoxicated. He was released at 9:15 p.m. Sunday on $1,500 bond. In a telephone interview, Wharton County Sheriff Jess Howell said VanVickle had resigned his position effective Thursday.

"It was a general resignation," the sheriff said. "He (VanVickle) was with the department for a little over five years and did a good job for us during that time."

Howell added that while it was hard to accept the resignation, it would have been difficult for the deputy to continue his career here.

"Because of the arrest, it would have been hard for (VanVickle) to work in law enforcement in Wharton County," Howell said. "There would have had to have been a disciplinary suspension because of the offense and because he refused a breath test. His license would have been taken away preventing him from being able to patrol. The resignation was probably the best thing for him to do personally and probably the best thing for our office although I hate to see him leave."

A Wharton Police Department report of the incident states a blood sample was taken from VanVickle and the test results are still pending following the accident, which occurred Sunday in the 1500 block of Boling Highway. Factors contributing to the accident, based on the investigator's opinion, listed driving under the influence of a drug.

The report narrative states a 2003 Ford F-250 pickup driven by David Tripulas, 20, of Sugar Land was traveling east on the Boling Highway (FM 1301) and was attempting to turn into Stadium Road. The report states a 2003 Chevrolet Z71 pickup driven by VanVickle was also heading east and struck Tripulas' vehicle from behind.