Two Florida deputies killed, one critically injured in 'horrific' crash | Law Enforcement Today

PALM BEACH, FL- Authorities said that one of its deputies is "fighting for his life" after being critically injured in a "horrific accident" that took the lives of two other deputies. 

According to FOX13, Deputy Ignacio Diaz of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) was struck on the shoulder of Southern Boulevard by a female driver who was trying to pass a vehicle on her right. The incident happened on Thursday, November 21st. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said that Diaz, along with Cpl. Luis Paez and Deputy Sheriff Ralph Waller, had been conducting traffic enforcement in the area.

Bradshaw said, of the female driver, "She overcompensated, got off the road and then struck all three of the motor officers, at which time all three went airborne in different directions." Regarding Diaz, Bradshaw said, "Hopefully he is going to make it. It's a bad crash. We are jointly investigating this with Florida Highway Patrol."

Bradshaw said the accident happened after one of the officers made a traffic stop and then "could not get his motorcycle started, so he thought he had a dead battery." He added, "So, he called the other two over to help him move the bike off the road. They were all three on the grassy area of the shoulder of the road, and they were going to wait for another PBSO vehicle to come with some battery cables."

The female driver, who did not seem to be impaired and was traveling in a zone with a 55-mph speed limit, suffered minor injuries from the crash. Paez and Waller were both airlifted to the hospital. According to Bradshaw, "they worked on them for as long as they could there, but they were injured so badly they just weren't going to make it."

Bradshaw said, "Law enforcement, public safety and the military are the only professions when you leave the house and kiss your family goodbye, that might be the last time, and here's the example of it. When a deputy dies, a piece of the community dies with them. It's tough."

Diaz underwent surgery and is now in critical but stable condition in the ICU. On its Facebook page, PBSO wrote, "This is our hero, Deputy Ignacio 'Da' Diaz, currently fighting 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 for your thoughts and prayers for him and his family during this incredibly difficult time."

It added, "Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of our brothers, honor their memory, and support their families during this devastating time." According to WPBF, PBSO said that Paez dedicated over 36 years of his life to law enforcement, beginning his career with the sheriff's office in January of 1988 as a corrections deputy before moving to road patrol.

Deputy Sheriff Waller served with distinction for over 18 years in PBSO's motor unit and began his law enforcement career with the Royal Palm Beach Police Department before it merged with PBSO in October 2008. As of Friday, November 22nd, no charges have yet been filed. 
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