Tragedy struck Lubbock, Texas, on January 11, 2020, when a Lubbock police officer and a firefighter were fatally struck by a vehicle while responding to accident scenes on Interstate 27. The fallen first responders were identified as 27-year-old Nicholas Reyna and 39-year-old Eric Hill, as confirmed by Lubbock Police Chief Floyd Mitchell.
According to Chief Mitchell, officers and firefighters were initially dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover accident on I-27 at approximately 8:19 a.m. The vehicle, traveling southbound, had crossed the median into the northbound lanes and overturned. Emergency crews arrived at the scene around 8:36 a.m., according to KHOU.
While emergency personnel were investigating the initial accident, a second vehicle hauling a trailer, also traveling southbound on I-27, crossed the median and came to a stop in the northbound lanes, approximately 25 to 50 yards from the first accident site. This development necessitated the division of resources between the two collision sites.
Tragically, a third vehicle traveling southbound on I-27 then crossed the median and struck one Lubbock police officer and two Lubbock firefighters. The vehicle came to rest in an embankment, as reported by KHOU. Officer Nicholas Reyna, a member of the Lubbock Police Department for just over a year, was pronounced dead at the scene. The two firefighters were immediately transported to a nearby hospital. Firefighter Eric Hill later died at the hospital. The condition of the other firefighter was initially reported as critical.
During a press conference, officials attributed the series of accidents to hazardous road conditions. Police Chief Floyd Mitchell emphasized the need for drivers to reduce their speed in adverse weather conditions. Accident investigators are meticulously mapping the scene and examining all contributing factors to determine if any charges will be filed.
First Responder deaths are always a tragedy. The police and fire departments put their lives on the line every day.
It is important to remember the dangers that law enforcement officers face daily. The sacrifice made by these individuals is immense.