Texas officer, firefighter killed while working crash

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Two Texas first responders were killed on Saturday and another was injured after they were hit by a vehicle while working the scene of a traffic accident during icy conditions resulting from severe weather that moved through the area, officials said.

The first responders were at the scene of two separate accidents on Interstate 27 around 8:30 a.m. in Lubbock when a southbound vehicle crossed into the median and hit two firefighters and one police officer.

Storms that swept across parts of the South on Friday night and Saturday resulted in snow in the Lubbock area as well as icy roadways.

The police officer — 27-year-old Officer Nicholas Reyna — died at the scene. He had been with the Lubbock Police Department for one year.

Two firefighters — 39-year-old Lt. David Hill and 30-year-old Matthew Dawson — were transported to a local hospital. Hill was pronounced dead at the hospital. Dawson was listed in critical condition and was taken into surgery.

Officials said Hill had just celebrated 10 years of service in Lubbock. Dawson has been a firefighter since 2014.

Lubbock police Chief Floyd Mitchell said when road conditions get bad due to weather, drivers need to “slow down. They need to understand the road conditions are dangerous. We have people out there trying to protect them.”

“If people would respect road conditions, things like this wouldn’t have to happen,” said fire Chief Shaun Fogerson.