Corporal Luis Paez,Ralph Butch Waller Obituary, Death; – Two experienced officers in Florida have tragically lost their lives, and a third is in critical condition following a vehicle collision while they were stationed on the highway.
On Thursday, November 21, the officers—identified as Corporal Luis Paez, Deputy Sheriff Ralph “Butch” Waller, and Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz—were engaged in traffic enforcement on Southern Boulevard when the incident occurred, as reported by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) on X (formerly Twitter).
The collision took place at 9:29 a.m. local time near State Road 80, west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Boulevard, as confirmed by a press release obtained by PEOPLE. Both Paez and Waller succumbed to their injuries, while Diaz is currently in critical condition and “fighting for his life,” according to the police statement.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the loss of two of our own,” the message began. “Our hearts are heavy as we grieve for our brothers, honor their legacy, and provide support to their families during this tragic time. We ask that you keep Deputy Diaz in your thoughts as he continues his battle. Their oath was to serve and protect; it is our responsibility to honor them. #PBSOFa:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(1020x310:1022x312):format(webp)/PBSO-deputies-killed-palm-beach-112224-2-1eba17cb434d4fdeb868efa31e0d580d.jpg "Corporal Luis Paez,Ralph Butch Waller Obituary, Death; 2 Veteran Officers Killed, 1 Critically Injured After Car Hits Them on Highway Shoulder")
llen,” the sheriff’s office stated.
A subsequent post featured a photo of “hero” Diaz, noting, “Deputy Diaz has been with PBSO since 2004 and has been a valued member of our Motor Unit for over a decade.” “We request your thoughts and prayers for him and his family during this extremely challenging period. #PBSOstrong,” the message continued.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(567x594:569x596):format(webp)/PBSO-deputies-killed-palm-beach-112224-4-cbccd63a5ef24cb9bfd06e634507ba7f.jpg "Corporal Luis Paez,Ralph Butch Waller Obituary, Death; 2 Veteran Officers Killed, 1 Critically Injured After Car Hits Them on Highway Shoulder")
“Corporal Luis Paez devoted more than 36 years to law enforcement, beginning his career at PBSO in January 1988 as a Corrections Deputy before transitioning to Road Patrol and ultimately serving as a motor deputy for over 20 years,” PBSO stated in a media advisory obtained by PEOPLE.
The release further noted, “Deputy Sheriff Ralph ‘Butch’ Waller served with honor for over 18 years in our motor unit, having initiated his law enforcement career with the Royal Palm Beach Police Department prior to its merger with PBSO in October 2008.”
