PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A third Palm Beach County deputy involved in a devastating wreck near Loxahatchee last week has tragically passed away Monday, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office told WPTV News.
Ignacio "Dan" Diaz, Deputy Sheriff Ralph "Butch" Waller, and Corporal Luis Paez — all motorcycle deputies — were struck by a Jeep SUV on Nov. 21 while stopped on the shoulder of Southern Boulevard, just west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said a service to honor the fallen deputies will be held Dec. 3 at 11 a.m. on Dec. 3 at the fairgrounds amphitheater. They are expecting upwards of 7,000 people to attend.
"He put up a hell of a fight, but the injuries were so catastrophic that there was no way he was going to make it," Bradshaw said Monday.
Waller and Paez were pronounced dead that same day, while Diaz was in critical condition for several days before passing away at approximately 12:45 p.m. Monday, the sheriff's office said.
"Despite his courageous fight, Deputy Diaz lost the battle due to the injuries sustained by the tragic crash," the sheriff's office posted on Facebook, adding that "once again, we find ourselves mourning the loss of another hero who dedicated his life to serving and protecting Palm Beach County."
Bradshaw said the deaths of three deputies at one time have "never happened in the 100-year history of this agency."
WATCH BELOW: Sheriff Ric Bradshaw shares thoughts on 3rd deputy's passing
Diaz joined the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office in 2004 and had been with the agency's motor unit for more than 10 years.
An ambulance carrying Diaz's body left St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach just before 2:15 p.m. and arrived at the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office roughly 30 minutes later.
Dozens of local law enforcement officers from multiple agencies and counties took part in the emotional 10-mile procession.
WATCH: Procession for Palm Beach County Deputy Ignacio "Dan" Diaz
In a truly poignant show of unity and support, more than a dozen members of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue stood on an Interstate 95 overpass as the procession passed underneath.
The group of fellow deputies, emergency responders, and other officials stood solemnly saluting the procession.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the deputies were standing on the shoulder of Southern Boulevard, just west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 21, when a Pennsylvania woman, born in 1993, driving a Jeep SUV, came up to a "slower vehicle" in front of her and "abruptly" veered toward the shoulder, striking the deputies.
"You can train the deputies to deal with bad guys, you can train the deputies for traffic stops, you can train the deputies for high-speed chases and how to deal with people, but there is no training for this at all," Bradshaw said. "They never saw it coming. They never had a chance to do any evasive action. They never had a chance to try to save themselves."
FHP Lt. Indiana Miranda there are no criminal charges against the Jeep driver at this time, adding that she was cooperative at the scene.
As for traffic-related violations, Miranda said the FHP's Traffic Homicide Unit will determine if the woman committed any wrongdoing, like speeding or careless or reckless driving.
Waller served with distinction for more than 18 years in the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office's motor unit, having started his law enforcement career with the Royal Palm Beach Police Department before it merged with PBSO in October 2008.
Paez dedicated more than 36 years of his life to law enforcement, beginning his career at PBSO in January 1988 as a corrections deputy before moving to road patrol, ultimately serving as a motor deputy for more than 20 years.
Bradshaw said that his agency has received condolences from across the country, including calls from President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the director of the FBI, the director of the Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney's Office.
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