A “horrific crash” in Florida on Thursday killed two sheriff’s deputies and left a third in serious condition, according to authorities.
The incident included three Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies on motorcycles while conducting routine traffic enforcement on Southern Boulevard. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw stated that one of the police was unable to start his motorbike and requested assistance from the other two cops in getting it off the roadway.
The officers were waiting for assistance in a grassy area away from the road when a vehicle heading westbound on the highway attempted to pass another vehicle and then “overcompensated,” losing control and colliding with all three motorcycle officers.
“All three went airborne in different directions,” Bradshaw stated during a press briefing Thursday afternoon.
Two deputies were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, while a third was reported in critical condition Thursday night.
“Hopefully he’s going to make it,” Bradshaw added of the surviving deputy. “But it’s a bad crash.”
The sheriff’s office recognized the two cops who died as Cpl. Luis Paez, who had been a motorcycle cop for almost 20 years after joining the department in 1988, and Deputy Sheriff Ralph “Butch” Waller, who had served in the motorcycle unit for more than 18 years.
The third, deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, who joined the office in 2004 and has been on the motor unit for almost a decade, underwent surgery and is still in critical but stable condition, according to Bradshaw.
The Florida Highway Patrol, as well as the sheriff’s office, are investigating the crash.