- Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, one of three officers from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PSBO) who were hit by a car on Nov. 21, has died
- Corporal Luis Paez and Deputy Sheriff Ralph “Butch” Waller were previously killed in the collision
- “We stand together, honoring their memory and supporting their families, friends, and colleagues through this time of immense sorrow,” the sheriff’s office said
A third Florida deputy who was critically injured following a traffic crash that killed two fellow deputies has died.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office(PBSO) announced that Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, succumbed to his injuries on Monday, Nov. 25.
“Despite his courageous fight, Deputy Diaz lost the battle due to the injuries sustained by the tragic crash that also claimed the lives of Cpl. Luis Paez and D/S Butch Waller,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Once again, we find ourselves mourning the loss of another hero who dedicated his life to serving and protecting Palm Beach County.”
“We stand together, honoring their memory and supporting their families, friends, and colleagues through this time of immense sorrow,” officials added. “Let us remember their courage and commitment to duty as we pledge to continue their legacy of service. To serve and protect was their oath—honoring them is our duty.”
“He has been a valued member of our motor unit for over 10 years,” authorities said in a news release before Diaz’s death.
Ayerim Lopez, Diaz’s cousin, previously told ABC affiliate WPBF that she was stunned by what happened.
“It’s just a feeling of numbness and heartache and pain,” Lopez said at the time as Diaz was fighting for his life. “I couldn’t even go to work today. I just felt back pain, stomach pain, problems with my heart, it’s just a shock.”
According to authorities, Diaz, Paez and Waller were conducting traffic enforcement on Southern Boulevard when a car crashed into them on the side of the highway on Thursday, Nov. 21. In a press release obtained by PEOPLE, the incident occurred in the vicinity of State Road 80 west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Boulevard at 9:29 a.m. local time.
Paez and Waller were killed, and Diaz was left in critical condition following the collision, authorities said at the time.
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said during a Nov. 21 press conference that the crash occurred after one officer couldn’t get his motorcycle to start after making contact with a motorist. He called on the assistance of his two colleagues and assumed he had a dead battery.
“All three [of them were] on the grassy area of the shoulder of the road, and they were going to wait for another PBSO vehicle to come with some battery cables,” said Bradshaw.
The three deputies were then hit by a vehicle after the driver came across a slower car in the center lane, before swerving to the right and striking the deputies.
“She overcompensated, got off the road and then struck all three of the motor officers — at which time all three went airborne in different directions,” Bradshaw said at the time.
The sheriff added that, based on a preliminary investigation, the driver didn’t appear to be impaired. He described what happened as a “horrific accident.”
“It just looks like one of those things where she overcompensated and got off the road,” he said.
PEOPLE contacted the PBSO on Tuesday, Nov. 26. A Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson said criminal charges aren’t currently pending against the driver as she is still under investigation, according to CBS affiliate WPEC.
Investigators said that the driver, who is from Pennsylvania, was cooperative at the scene of the crash, NBC affiliate WGALreported.
Both the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol are investigating the incident.
Following the announcement of Diaz’s death, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis offered his condolences in an X (formerly Twitter) post.
“.@CaseyDeSantis and I are saddened by the passing of Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, who was critically injured in last week’s crash that took the lives of two other @PBCountySheriff deputies. Our prayers are with his loved ones and the entire PBSO,” DeSantis wrote.
On Monday, Nov. 25, the sheriff’s office said it will say their “final goodbyes” to the officers on Dec. 3, with additional details to be announced. The department also thanked the community for its support.
“We are grieving,” authorities in a statement, “and as Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said, ‘When you lose a law enforcement officer, you lose a little piece of the community.’ Palm Beach County is mourning.”
