LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Lubbock County Sheriff Deputies Andrew Cavazos and Jorge Martinez were helping a stranded driver along I-27 at the 98th street overpass on Monday.
Within seconds, the two deputies were pinned between their unit and a concrete barrier after a semi-truck hit the parked patrol car.
Cavazos was left hanging over the side of a bridge and community members who saw the accident took no time to think and quickly acted.
Sheriff Kelly Rowe said he believes the quick response from those Good Samaritans was the difference between life and death.
“Like I said, there is no question in my life, or in my mind, that lives were saved yesterday as a direct result of those citizens jumping in and helping,” Rowe said.
Kohl Stephenson and Wyatt Williams were right across the street when they heard the crash, and knew they needed to help.
“I told Wyatt that we needed to get that ladder out ASAP, and luckily enough I had my second guy with me,” Stephenson said. “So we were able to open the door as soon as possible so we were able to get that ladder out and I just rushed over there as fast as I could.”
Rusty Geistweidt, the owner of Phil Kerr’s Plumbing where Stephenson and Williams work, said the two men just did what they always do, which is helping others.
“I wasn’t surprised at all being that they were there and everything, that would be something they would do and they wouldn’t hesitate and I was very proud to see what they did,” Geistweidt said. “Kohl is a great young man and he’s a super plumber, and he’s just a super person all together and he’s just a super person all together and that’s his personality so I expect that out of him, and it didn’t bother me at all that he was using our ladders.”
Williams and Stephenson said they believe this event, which brought random community members together for one cause, shows the strength of Lubbock.
“It was just good to see everyone come together, no hatred, no nothing, just coming together helping out someone in need,” Williams said.
Stephenson agreed stating sometimes the community needs to step up to help save lives as every officers does.
“They put their lives on the line everyday, they put those vests on and know what is going to happen,” he said. “It’s nice to see we have a community that stands behind them, to help them and serve them as well.”
Sheriff Rowe said the two officers are thankful for everyone who stepped in to help.
“Deputy Martinez would like to thank the citizens on scene, and said, ‘Thank you for helping my partner when I couldn’t reach him,’ and deputy Cavazos said, ‘I appreciate everyone who helped, it could have gone a lot different without you there,’ and I couldn’t second that enough, no truer words were said,” Rowe said.
Deputy Cavazos and Martinez are now recovering at home and are expected to make a full recovery.
The semi-truck driver Gregory Vaught was transported to the hospital with moderate injuries and later released.
At this time, there have been no charges in the case.
Sheriff Rowe said he hopes to personally meet the people who helped save two of his deputies, and encourages everyone that helped to give the Sheriff’s Office a call.
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