Lawsuit filed in incident involving distracted truck driver that left deputy dangling upside down from an overpass

A family involved in a recent crash that left a deputy dangling upside down  from an overpass has filed a lawsuit against the truck driver involved. 

The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday, September 16th for the September 8th crash on the 98th Street overpass along Interstate 27. 

According to Everything Lubbock News, two deputies with the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office were helping the Martinez family with a flat tire when 57-year-old truck driver Gregory Vaught crashed into both parked patrol vehicles. The patrol vehicles were then pushed into the Martinez family pickup. The collision pinned both Deputy Andrew Cavazos and Deputy Jorge Martinez, and left Cavazos dangling upside down pinned by his ankle. 

Both deputies were reported to have sustained serious injuries, but are expected to fully recover. One member of the Martinez family sustained moderate injuries in the crash. 

The lawsuit states that Vaught, a truck driver for Roth Products, was distracted by his phone when he “violently” crashed into the police vehicles. The suit is seeking damages for physical pain, mental anguish, and lost wages. A specific amount has not been listed. 

“Texas law requires drivers to slow down and move over when approaching emergency vehicles,” a press release from Glasheen, Valles & Inderman Injury Lawyers stated. “While every other driver complied, the Roth Products truck driver failed to slow down, failed to move over, and slammed into both patrol units.”

“This crash is a stark reminder to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles. These laws exist to protect first responders and people like the Martinez family.”