Terrifying moment sheriff's deputy hangs from overpass after vehicle collision in Texas
By Melissa Koenig
Daily Mail
Sep 9, 2025
Heart-stopping footage showed the moment Lubbock County Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Cavasos, 49, was left dangling off the side of an overpass Monday morning
Heart-stopping footage caught the moment a Texas sheriff's deputy dangled headfirst from an overpass after an allegedly distracted truck driver slammed into patrol vehicles.
The terrifying situation came as Lubbock County deputies Andrew Cavasos, 49, and Jorge Martinez, 36, worked to divert traffic to protect two people changing a tire near Highway 87 and 98th Street overpass, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reports.
The two had just returned from an unrelated call at around 9.15 am on Monday when they found the motorist 'in a precarious spot,' Sheriff Kelly Rowe said at news briefing on Tuesday.
They then decided to stop and block the outside lane of traffic, when police say a semitruck plowed into the deputies' empty patrol vehicles - pushing one of the vehicles towards the deputies and pinning them against a concrete barrier.
Cavasos was then pushed partially over the overpass, where he was seen hanging by his feet until he could be rescued.
He was pinned to the wall by his unit vehicle - the only thing holding him from plummeting to his death, according to Fox 4.
Fortunately, a group of good Samaritans from a nearby gas station rushed to the scene in a heroic moment caught on camera by KCBD.
One man was caught on video carrying a ladder to the overpass in hopes of reaching Cavasos' position, as others held onto his legs and shirt.
Good Samaritans from a nearby gas station rushed to the scene to try to help pull Cavasos back up
Together, they were able to lift Cavasos back up and over the overpass.
Both Cavasos and Martinez were then rushed to a local hospital, but have since been sent home to recover.
The driver of the semitruck, Gregory Vaught, 57, also suffered moderate injuries in the collision and was taken to University Medical Center.
He, too, has since been released.
The Lubbock Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety are still investigating the crash and have not filed any criminal charges.
Yet a preliminary investigation found that Vaught got distracted while trying to reconnect a Bluetooth device to his 18-wheeler, Sheriff Rowe announced on Tuesday.
'[He] didn't look up in time until he ended up rear-ending both of the sheriff's vehicles there on the overpass,' he said.
The sheriff then vehemently thanked all of those who rushed to his deputies' aid, as he attributed their survival to a higher power.
'God is great,' Rowe said as he began the news conference on Tuesday. 'He certainly was watching out for two young men yesterday, absolutely no doubt in my mind.'
Authorities say Cavasos and his partner, Jorge Martinez, were diverting traffic when an 18-wheeler plowed into their patrol vehicles
He also shared words of gratitude from both Cavasos and Martinez, before he thanked the good Samaritans himself.
In his remarks, Martinez - who joined the force in 2015 - said: 'Thank you for helping my partner when I couldn't reach him.'
Cavasos, who has been with the sheriff's office since 2009, also said he appreciates 'everyone that helped.
'It could have gone a lot different without you there,' he noted.
Rowe echoed those sentiments.
Cavasos, who has been with the sheriff's office since 2009, said he appreciates everyone that rushed to help save him
Martinez, who joined the force in 2015, expressed his gratitude as well. He is pictured with Sheriff Kelly Rowe at an award ceremony
'Part of the beauty of living in Lubbock, Texas is we know what our citizens are capable of,' the sheriff said.
'We know what kind of people they are - and that's just embedded in their DNA to see something like that happening and be willing to jump in and provide assistance was invaluable.'
'Like I said, there's no question in my mind that lives were saved yesterday as a direct result of these citizens jumping in and helping,' he continued, before turning his attention directly to those who sprang into action to help.
'To each and every one of them that found a ladder, held the guy up, moved debris to help get vehicles [dragged] out of the way so we can get these guys the help they needed with EMS and Fire [Department], again, like I said, I can't say enough in terms of thank yous to each and every one of them.
'Hopefully, I'll get a chance to tell some of them personally. Truly,' Rowe added.
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