WISE COUNTY, Texas — A Wise County Sheriff's Deputy died in a single-vehicle crash while on duty Wednesday, officials confirmed Thursday.
Wise County Sheriff's Deputy Lex Love, 26, was responding to the scene of a nearby crash at about 8:02 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2 on County Road 4421, east of U.S. 287, according to a news release.
While "rushing to the scene" of another crash, Love collided with a concrete barrier on Highway 287 just north of Rhome Wednesday night, according to a press release from the Wise County Sheriff's Department.
Other Wise County deputies were nearby when the crash occurred but Love was unresponsive when they reached his cruiser, the release states. Love was taken to a hospital where he died, officials said.
"Lex leaves behind a beautiful and loving young family. Last night, a huge hole was left in Wise County Law Enforcement," the release states.
Love had been employed with the Wise County Sheriff's Office since April, officials said. He was previously employed with the Decatur Police Department from Nov. 2022 to April 2024, the department confirmed.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Wise County Sheriff’s Office as they grieve the tragic loss of a Deputy who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty," the Texas Municipal Police Association said Thursday in a social media post.
This is the second former former Decatur police officer to die this week. Joshua Brandes, a Fire Equipment Operator and Paramedic with the Irving FD was killed while off-duty in a motorcycle crash Tuesday. He was previously a police officer for Decatur PD for 3 years.
"We are obviously saddened by another loss that has hit our department and community," the Decatur Police Department said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family."