Community Risk

Pandemic Delays Probe of Crash that Killed TX Firefighter, Cop

Aug. 17, 2020

Investigators looking into the Jan. 11 crash that killed a Lubbock firefighter and police officer have been waiting for information from an out-of-state lab that was temporarily closed because of COVID-19.

By Gabriel Monte

Source Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Texas

The Jan. 11 crash that killed two Lubbock first responders remains an open investigation as detectives await critical information from an out-of-state laboratory that was temporarily closed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lubbock police spokesman Lt. Leath McClure said investigators expect to have the information soon as the lab hopes to reopen next week.

"They know we're waiting on it," McClure said. "They know what the significance of this is."

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The crash killed Lubbock Fire Rescue Lt. Eric Hill and Lubbock police officer Nicholas Reyna and seriously injured firefighter Matt Dawson. The men were among the first responders initially called out to a wreck involving a single vehicle that was traveling on icy roads southbound on I-27 near Drew Street/FM 1294 when it crossed the median into the northbound lanes and rolled.

About 10 minutes later, a second vehicle hauling a trailer left the southbound lanes of I-27 and rolled, coming to rest in the median 25 to 50 yards south of the first crash.

While working both accidents, a silver Ford F-250 pickup truck traveling southbound on I-27 crossed over into the median and struck Hill, Reyna and Dawson.

Dawson suffered a traumatic brain injury and bone fractures in his legs, wrist, ribs and skull.

Crash investigators are awaiting vehicle data from an out-of-state laboratory that will help them determine the cause of the crash, McClure said.

Meanwhile, Lubbock Fire Rescue, police and city officials as well as friends and family welcomed Dawson on Thursday when he returned to Lubbock after spending about five months at a Colorado rehabilitation facility that specializes in traumatic brain injury.

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Visit the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Lubbock, Texas) at www.lubbockonline.com

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