A Florida deputy is “preventing for his life” Friday after being critically injured in a “horrific accident” that claimed the lives of two of his colleagues, officers say.
Deputy Ignacio Diaz of the Palm Seashore County Sheriff’s Workplace was struck Thursday on the shoulder of Southern Boulevard by a feminine driver who was attempting to move a car on her proper, in response to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. Diaz, together with Cpl. Luis Paez and Deputy Sheriff Ralph Waller, had been conducting site visitors enforcement within the space.
“She overcompensated, bought off the street after which struck all three of the motor officers, at which era all three went airborne in numerous instructions,” Bradshaw mentioned.
“Hopefully he’s going to make it,” Bradshaw added relating to Diaz. “It’s a foul crash. We’re collectively investigating this with Florida Freeway Patrol.”
FLORIDA SHERIFF BREAKS UP ALLEGED MASSIVE CHECK FRAUD CONSPIRACY
Bradshaw mentioned the accident occurred after one of many officers made a site visitors cease after which “couldn’t get his bike began, so he thought he had a lifeless battery.
“So he referred to as the opposite two over to assist him transfer the bike off the street. They had been all three on the grassy space on the shoulder of the street, and so they had been going to attend for an additional PBSO car to return with some battery cables,” he continued.
The feminine driver, who didn’t look like impaired and was touring in a zone with a 55-mph pace restrict, suffered minor accidents within the crash, the sheriff mentioned.
Paez and Waller had been airlifted to a hospital, the place “they labored on them for so long as they might there,” however “they had been injured so badly they only weren’t going to make it,” in response to Bradshaw.
2 KENTUCKY POLICE OFFICERS SHOT DURING TRAFFIC STOP ON CAR REPORTED STOLEN
“Legislation enforcement, public security and the navy are the one professions if you go away the home and kiss your loved ones goodbye, that could be the final time, and right here’s the instance of it,” Bradshaw mentioned. “When a deputy dies, a chunk of the group dies with them. It’s robust.”
The sheriff, who additionally referred to as the accident “horrific,” mentioned Diaz underwent surgical procedure and is now in essential however steady situation in a neighborhood hospital’s ICU.
“That is our hero, Deputy Ignacio ‘Dan’ Diaz, at the moment preventing for his life. Deputy Diaz joined PBSO in 2004 and has been a valued member of our Motor Unit for over 10 years. We ask to your ideas and prayers for him and his household throughout this extremely troublesome time,” the sheriff’s workplace wrote on its Fb web page.
“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the lack of our brothers, honor their reminiscence, and help their households throughout this devastating time,” it added in a submit asserting the deaths of Paez and Waller.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
As of Friday, it seems no expenses have been filed following the accident. The Palm Seashore County Sheriff’s Workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Fox Information Digital.