A deputy with the Wise County Sheriff’s Office was killed in a crash Wednesday while responding to a call.
The sheriff's office said Deputy Lex Allen Love, 26, was responding to a call about a car crash on County Road 4421 when he collided with a concrete barrier while driving through a construction zone at about 8:20 p.m.
Other deputies were nearby when Love crashed and were able to stop and provide first aid.
Love was said to be unresponsive when he was pulled from his vehicle. Medics with the Wise County EMS service transported Love to Medical City Decatur, where he later died.
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The sheriff's department described Love as "an amazingly kind young deputy" who first worked with the sheriff's department years ago as a jailer.
He attended the police academy, sponsored by the Decatur Police Department. After graduation, Love was a patrol officer for a couple of years before returning to the sheriff's department last April.
"Lex is one of the best law enforcement officers to ever wear the DPD and WCSO badges," the sheriff's office said. "Lex leaves behind a beautiful and loving young family. A huge hole was left in Wise County Law Enforcement."
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Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
COMMUNITY MOURNS
In front of the Wise County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, a cruiser was covered in flowers, notes and stuffed animals.
Deputy Lex Love was killed in the wreck on County Road 4421. Love was 26 years old and leaves behind two young children.
It was a place for the community to honor the memory of Deputy Lex Love.
“He wanted to help people, he wanted to make a difference,” said Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin. “I mean really, that was all that kid wanted to do.”
The sheriff’s office said Love was rushing to a reported wreck on US-287 when he ran off the side of a county road, crashing into cement barriers.
“No doubt he was going too fast, because the kid has a heart that’s huge,” said Akin. “And he was concerned that he needed to get there and help somebody.”
After fighting for his life in the emergency room for hours, Love died from his injuries at the hospital.
He leaves behind his wife Alyssa, a three-year-old, and a one-year-old.
“And it just, it really hurts our hearts to lose him here,” said Akin. “And we can’t imagine what that family is going through.”
This weekend the Bowie Police Department will hold a fundraiser for Love’s family, and the Wise County Sheriff’s Office is planning their own memorial event.
The sheriff told NBC 5 it was only right to honor a young man who gave his life in service.
“I want the family to know that that kid was important, and he is important,” said Akin. “And I want those children to know that their dad was one of the best.”
The fundraiser from Bowie PD will be held at the city’s Chicken and Bread Days event on Saturday, October 5. No funeral arrangements for Deputy Love have been decided at this time.
