Texas Deputy Dies after Alleged Drunk Driver Crashes Stop
Smith County TX July 21 2022 A Texas sheriff’s deputy was killed when an alleged drunk driver slammed into his vehicle while the deputy was at a traffic stop early Friday.
The crash happened as Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy Lorenzo Bustos and another deputy, Michael Skinner, were conducting a traffic stop, the Longview News-Journal reports. Bustos was standing several feet behind a cruiser, while Skinner was inside on the computer, with two suspects handcuffed in the back.
That’s when a driver who was apparently impaired crashed into the cruiser, which then struck Bustos. The collision sent the deputy under the cruiser.
He suffered head trauma injuries and was taken to the hospital, where he later died. Skinner suffered minor injuries in the crash.
Bustos had served with the department for roughly six months and was still working with a field training officer. His shift was the final one working with another deputy.
“He had become to be very loved by all of his cohorts and co-workers,” Sheriff Larry Smith told the News-Journal. “He was doing a great job.”
Before joining the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, he had worked with the Henderson Police Department and Rusk Sheriff’s Office. Bustos is survived by his wife and three children.
The driver and passenger in the other vehicle were uninjured. The two suspects handcuffed in the back of the cruiser also were not injured.
The driver was arrested and charged with intoxication assault, and Smith said that charge would be raised to intoxication manslaughter. The passenger also was arrested and charged with public intoxication.
The crash is under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
