Sheriff Kelly Rowe said deputies Andrew Cavazos, who has served with the department since 2009, and Jorge Martinez, who joined in March 2015, were helping a stranded family when the collision happened.
“God is great. And he certainly, certainly was watching out for two young men yesterday,” Rowe said.
The deputies had just finished another call when they pulled over to assist.
“They stopped to, blocked the lane, the the outside lane of traffic to help provide some protection. To the individuals while they were trying to get a tire changed on, on their vehicle,” Rowe said.
Moments later, investigators say a semi-truck driven by 57-year-old Gregory Vaught barreled into two patrol units.
“Basically, just stated that, for whatever reason, is Bluetooth not connected. And he was in the process of trying to get it to reconnect,” Rowe said. “And didn’t look up in time until he ended up rear ending, both of the, sheriff’s vehicles.”
Deputy Cavazos was pushed over the railing of the 98th Street overpass.
“One of the vehicles pressed up enough not to actually cause a lot of injury, as we know of so far, but did pinned, pinned him and keep him from going over the edge of the overpass where we know, that would have had a far worse, worse outcome,” Rowe said.
Rowe said the quick actions of nearby bystanders likely saved lives.
“The number of different citizens, that came out and, aided, aided the, the deputy, in fact, with, the one who was actually precariously hanging over the, the overpass. They held him in place until until we could get him freed up and lifted back up, on to the overpass itself,” Rowe said. “But, again, I can’t express my appreciation. And thanks enough to everybody who came and assisted.”
The crash remains under investigation by the Lubbock Police Department’s Major Crash Investigation Unit. As of now, there is no charges for the driver of that semi, Gregory Vaught.
