A Florida deputy is “battling for his life” Friday after being criticassociate injured in a “horrific accident” that claimed the lives of two of his colleagues, officials say.
Deputy Ignacio Diaz of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office was struck Thursday on the shoulder of Southern Boulevard by a female driver who was trying to pass a vehicle on her right, according to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. Diaz, alengthy with Cpl. Luis Paez and Deputy Sheriff Ralph Waller, had been carry outing traffic enforcement in the area.
“She overreimbursed, got off the road and then struck all three of the motor officers, at which time all three went airborne in contrastent straightforwardions,” Bradshaw shelp.
“Hopefilledy he is going to originate it,” Bradshaw compriseed think abouting Diaz. “It’s a horrible crash. We are jointly dispenseigating this with Florida Highway Patrol.”
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Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, who was criticassociate injured Thursday after being hit by an SUV while carry outing traffic enforcement. (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)
Bradshaw shelp the accident happened after one of the officers made a traffic stop and then “could not get his motorcycle commenceed, so he thought he had a dead battery.
“So he called the other two over to help him shift the bike off the road. They were all three on the grassy area on the shoulder of the road, and they were going to paengage for another PBSO vehicle to come with some battery cables,” he persistd.
The female driver, who did not ecombine to be impaired and was traveling in a zone with a 55-mph speed restrict, suffered unconvey inant injuries in the crash, the sheriff shelp.
Paez and Waller were airlifted to a hospital, where “they toiled on them for as lengthy as they could there,” but “they were injured so horriblely they equitable weren’t going to originate it,” according to Bradshaw.
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“Law enforcement, accessible defendedty and the military are the only professions when you exit the hoengage and kiss your family excellentbye, that might be the last time, and here’s the example of it,” Bradshaw shelp. “When a deputy dies, a piece of the community dies with them. It’s stubborn.”
The sheriff, who also called the accident “horrific,” shelp Diaz underwent srecommendry and is now in critical but firm condition in a local hospital’s ICU.
“This is our hero, Deputy Ignacio ‘Dan’ Diaz, currently battling for his life. Deputy Diaz fuseed PBSO in 2004 and has been a appreciated member of our Motor Unit for over 10 years. We ask for your thoughts and prayers for him and his family during this incredibly difficult time,” the sheriff’s office wrote on its Facebook page.
“Our hearts are burdensome as we mourn the loss of our brothers, honor their memory, and help their families during this deimmenseating time,” it compriseed in a post announcing the deaths of Paez and Waller.
Motorcycles belengthying to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
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As of Friday, it ecombines no indicts have been filed adhereing the accident. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office did not instantly react to a seek for comment from Fox News Digital.
