Gov. Abbott to honor Lubbock sheriff’s deputies 1 year after I-27 bridge crash - kcbd.com

The crash happened on September 8, 2025, while the deputies were helping a stranded motorist change a flat tire on the side of the road. Both got pinned between their patrol unit and a concrete barrier. Nearby drivers saw the wreck happen and ran over to help before emergency crews arrived.

Governor Abbott handed out the medals as part of a ceremony honoring peace officers, firefighters and emergency responders across Texas who were killed or seriously hurt while on duty. Cavazos and Martinez were recognized alongside other honorees and their families for the injuries they suffered that day.

For neighbors here, the recognition puts a name and a face on a stretch of road most people just drive past on the way to South Plains Mall or the Depot District. It also shows how often deputies and troopers work roadside calls just feet from moving traffic, the kind of routine stop that turned into a life-threatening crash in seconds.