LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. — Two Palm Beach County deputies were killed while another fights for his life after a Thursday morning crash in Loxahatchee, Fla., the sheriff's office posted on X.
The deputies were standing on the side of the road with their department-issued motorcycles when they were hit by an SUV, according to CBS Miami.
It happened around 9 a.m. on Southern Boulevard, with CBS affiliate WPEC reporting that Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded, closing portions of traffic in the area.
Video from CBS Miami shows a massive emergency response from the scene. The SUV was smashed into a guardrail along the highway with the deputies' three motorcycles heavily damaged beside it.
A Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office spokesperson shared the names of the victims with CBS Miami.
Cpl. Luis Paez was killed in Thursday's crash. Born in 1966, he worked for more than 36 years with PBSO, first as a corrections deputy before moving to road patrol.
Deputy Sheriff Ralph "Butch" Waller died in Thursday's crash. Born in 1970, he "has been a valued member of our motor unit" for 18 years.
Deputy Ignacio "Dan" Diaz was critically hurt in Thursday's crash. Born in 1973, he joined the sheriff's office in 2004 and has worked in the motor unit for over 10 years.
The spokesperson told the news outlet that one of the deputies was on the side of the road because his motorcycle had a dead battery. The two other deputies came over to assist and were waiting for a sheriff's office vehicle to bring them a battery jumper.
That's when, the spokesperson said, a woman in her 30s from Pennsylvania was driving a gray 2019 Jeep SUV and encountered a slower vehicle in the center lane. She abruptly veered to the right, causing her SUV to crash into the metal guardrail, spin out and hit the deputies who were standing on the side of the road.
Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statement on Thursday evening saying he's praying for the families of the deputies involved.
