AUSTIN, TX – Two Bexar County Constable’s Office deputies were injured Oct. 5 when a suspected impaired driver plowed into the construction zone they were working in Austin.
The crash was so horrific that one of the officer’s legs were crushed when she was trapped between two vehicles, and she remained hospitalized as of Wednesday.
The two were identified by Bexar County Pct. 2 Constable Leticia Vasquez as reserve deputies Leticia Martinez and Alfred Alcantar.
The deputies were working on a lane closure about 12:30 a.m. in a construction zone near Rundberg Lane and Highway 183 in Austin. At the time, Alcantar, a former Marine and current Bexar County Sheriff’s Office sergeant, was advising Martinez on where she would be staged in the construction zone.
A Honda Civic hit a Hyundai Santa Fe, which then spun out of control and hit the deputies. The impact was so severe that Martinez ended up trapped between two cars.
The driver of the Honda Civic, Charles Duffield, 25, was suspected of driving between 110-120 miles per hour, and in the process of changing lanes when his car struck the Hyundai.
“He was high on heroin and slammed through the intersection.”
Deputy Alcantar tried to recall what happened and said the last thing he remembers is hearing an explosion and seeing his own vehicle coming toward him.
Deputy Alcantar said of what came after:
“I guess I blacked out and I woke up, I saw my partner Leticia Martinez laying in the middle of the street and we were both yelling for help.”
Alcantar called out for help from a nearby officer who was also working the construction zone. He said he is also thankful for citizens who came to help them while they waited for first responders.
“A couple pulled over and the wife went to Deputy Martinez and the husband came to me and was just there trying to comfort us until help showed up.”
Alcantar admitted:
“The last thing I remember is lying on the shoulder, I guess it threw me.”
He said, speaking for both himself and Martinez:
“We’re real glad that we’re alive.”
Vazquez said:
“It is a miracle that she is alive. She was crushed. And the truck bounced off her and that is when she fell to the ground.”
Martinez is recovering at an Austin hospital. She has a broken left femur and a broken right tibia and fibula. In layman’s terms, her left thigh bone is broken, and her right calf bones are broken. She has already had at least five surgeries.
Vazquez, who visited Martinez, said her doctors are doing everything they can.
“They’re trying to still save her leg. She suffered two compound fractures in both legs. She’s going to have to learn how to walk again but thank God she’s still here with us.”
Vasquez added:
“She is in pain. She is worried about what is in her future.”
Alcantar, who had one of his feet crushed, was released from the hospital and is recovering at home in San Antonio. He may be facing surgery on the foot and will know once the swelling subsides.
Alcantar explained:
“They’re hoping in two weeks if it’s gone down they can determine if they’re going to operate or not.”
He said of the accident:
“I mean there’s accidents, but nothing this drastic.”
Constable Vazquez said she has worked with both of the deputies, who are part-time, for years within her office and at the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
Bexar County Precinct 2 Deputy Constables Leticia Martinez and Alfred Alcantar were severely injured after an intoxicated driver hit Alfred’s car into them when they were switching shifts at a construction site. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/8oZqoEUcdT
— Amanda Henderson (@AmandaHTV) October 9, 2020
“They’re not just my employees. They’re close friends of mine.”
Vazquez said neither deputy stood a chance when Duffield’s car allegedly crashed into the construction zone. Duffield has been charged with intoxication assault of a peace officer.
Vazquez said:
“It’s the law to slow down or move over.”
The Texas Move Over and Slow Down law requires all drivers to slow down or move over a lane when approaching an emergency vehicle parked on the shoulder with warning lights activated.
The constable’s office is raising funds for the two officers. Damian Anthony Balderas created the fundraiser.
It said:
“First we are asking for your prayers for both Deputies and their families. Second, we are asking for your support. As first responders, we are all one family. We want to provide any bit of relief we can for both Deputies.
“There is no way of knowing when either of them will be able to work again and we want to do what we can to help relieve some of the financial expenses from this incident.”
As of Oct. 14, the fundraiser has 55 donors, 1.3K shares, and 44 followers. It has raised $3,235 of a goal of $15,000.
If you would like to help the deputies with medical bills, you can donate to their GoFundMe.
News 4 San Antonio posted an item to its Facebook page about the two deputies and received more than 3,500 likes and almost 150 comments, with many people offering prayers to the injured deputies.
Officer Down: Pennsylvania State Trooper shot while arresting this man for DUI
February 29, 2020
CHAMBERSBURG, PA – A Pennsylvania state trooper was shot in the line of duty today by a man who police say was being arrested for a DUI.
It happened early in Guilford Township in Franklin County.
According to state police, the trooper had been conducting a traffic stop at 2 a.m. on the 1400 block of Lincoln Way E. The trooper pulled over a man who was believed to be driving under the influence.
Police tell us the driver, Robert William Ransom, then pulled out a handgun and shot the trooper.
The 20-year-old is from Chambersburg.
Police say the trooper was flown to an area hospital.
MEMBER INVOLVED SHOOTING: pic.twitter.com/IqNHfANHYk
— Troopers Megan Ammerman and Kelly Smith (@PSPTroopHPIO) February 29, 2020
Police said Ransom was not injured. He was arrested and is in Franklin County Prison.
Court documents show he’s now charged with criminal attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, firearms not to be carried without license, DUI, recklessly endangering, and resisting arrest.
Prayers to our brother Trooper from Pennsylvania for a full recovery! 🙏🏻🙏🏻 https://t.co/xqhiTe1L4X
— State Troopers Fraternal Association of NJ (STFA) (@STFA_NJ) February 29, 2020
He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Annie Gomez Shockey.
The governor sent his condolences and prayers:
“This morning, a Pennsylvania State Police trooper was shot, while making a traffic stop.
Thanks to the quick work of colleagues, the suspect is in custody, and the trooper is in stable condition.
Join me in praying for a full recovery and expressing deep gratitude for our Pennsylvania State Police.”
This morning, a @PAStatePolice trooper was shot while making a traffic stop.
Thanks to the quick work of colleagues, the suspect is in custody, and the trooper is in stable condition.
Join me in praying for a full recovery and expressing deep gratitude for our @PAStatePolice. https://t.co/ocP7U7Nsg0
— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) February 29, 2020
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