Deputy Lesley Wade was reportedly traveling with her two children, before crashing into an 18-wheeler, due to heavy fog.
HUNTINGTON, Texas — 24-year-old Jasper County Sheriff’s Deputy, Lesley Wade, was killed following a crash in Huntington at around 9 a.m. Friday.
Funeral services for Wade are set for Friday, January 3, 2025, in Lufkin at Carroway Funeral Home.
Services will be in the Carroway chapel on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 11 a.m. with internment to follow at the Zavalla Cemetery. The funeral home is at 2704 S. John Redditt Dr., in Lufkin.
A visitation will be held the evening before on Thursday, January 2, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Wade was reportedly traveling with her two children on Highway 69 in rural Angelina County around 8 a.m. Friday morning, before crashing into an 18-wheeler at the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 1818.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) the 18-wheeler was stretched across both south-bound lanes of U.S. 69, as the truck driver yielded to on-coming north-bound traffic. That’s when the Wade’s Jeep struck the back portion of the trailer. DPS is citing heavy fog as a contributing factor in the crash, but is still investigating the crash.
Deputy Wade, who was identified by Jasper County Judge Mark Allen, was taken to CHI St. Luke’s Memorial Lufkin with serious injuries. She was later pronounced dead due to her injuries, according to DPS.
“This afternoon we mourn the loss of one of our own. Jasper County Sheriff’s Deputy Lesley Wade left this world far too soon, and leaves behind her husband Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Wade and their two young twin children,” Judge Allen wrote in a Facebook post.
Her two children, a 6-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, were also taken to CHI St. Luke’s Memorial Lufkin, with non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the Mack was not injured in the crash.
12News spoke to Kirby Valdez, Assistant Fire Chief of Powell Town Volunteer Fire Department who was on the scene right after the crash.
Valdez was off-duty and on his way to Lufkin with his wife and child when he noticed an 18-wheeler stopped across the road which he noted was a little suspicious.
As he continued driving he soon saw the reason for the trucks strange behavior, and jumped into action.
“When we passed it I saw a car smacked into it so I flipped my lights and siren and went to the nearest turnaround, blocked it and put on my vest,” Valdez said.
Valdez quickly gathered people around the scene to try to help Wade.
“I got some Samaritans help to bust the windows open and pulled two kids out of their car seats, then we got the door open to the drivers side and I cut the airbag out. It wasn’t a good sight, so I just held her still until the EMT got there,” said an emotional Valdez.
Valdez says that while it was a hard scene to be at, he was just doing what he hopes someone else would do for his family.
As a fellow first responder, Valdez says the loss of Wade is a tragedy.
“It hurts, because that could be me or anybody responding to a call,” said Valdez, “I teared up at the scene when I saw her, it was pretty hard to see. It’s hard to process because you have to put your emotions to the side and figure out how to control the scene.”
Valdez also had a message that he wanted to share with Wade’s family.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t have done more, I did what I could with what I had. I’m just sorry that it happened. I wish I could have done more for the family,” said Valdez.
Heartfelt condolences have been pouring out across social media from Wades friends and piers.
“She was genuine and was so passionate about making a positive impact on the world we live in. This tragedy is a huge loss for Jasper County and the entire law enforcement community throughout the State of Texas,” wrote Sheriff-elect Chuck Havard in a Facebook post.
Jasper County Judge Mark Allen says that the community will remember Wade as a deputy with a passion for law enforcement and a tireless dedication to duty.
“She wasn’t afraid to work. She wasn’t afraid to take care of business. she was one of our better ones. We just Ask that everybody just continue to pray for Chris and their children and their families and support them and uplift them during this time,” said Allen.
You can read the full DPS press release below:
ANGELINA COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers are investigating a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 69, at the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 1818, south of Huntington, that occurred Friday, December 27, 2024.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 9:02 a.m., a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling south, while a 2014 Mack truck tractor, towing a 2023 Great Dane box trailer was entering U.S 69 from F.M. 1818. It is reported that the Great Dane trailer was stretched across both south-bound lanes of U.S. 69, due to the Mack truck yielding to on-coming north-bound traffic when the Jeep struck the back portion of the trailer. It is reported that the fog was extremely heavy at the time of the crash.
The driver of the Jeep, identified as 24-year-old Lesley Sallas Wade of Zavalla,was transported to CHI St. Luke’s Memorial Lufkin where she was pronounced deceased due to her injuries. Two passengers of the Jeep identified as a 6-year-old male, and a 6-year-old female were also transported to CHI St. Luke’s Memorial Lufkin for possible non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the Mack, identified as 64-year-old Juan Juarez of Nacogdoches, was not injured.
This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
Wade is survived by her husband, Jasper County Deputy Chris Wade, and their two children.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if or when we receive more confirmed information.