TYLER, Texas - A Smith County deputy died after a multi-vehicle crash shut down Frankston Highway early Friday, July 29th.

Sheriff Larry Smith said the deputy died at the hospital around 6 a.m. Friday. Sheriff Smith identified the deputy as Lorenzo Bustos. The deputy injured in the line of duty has been identified as 39-year-old Michael Skinner. He was treated and released at UT Health-Tyler.

Smith said at approximately 11:50 p.m. Thursday, two Smith County deputies were on patrol in the 14000 block of State Highway 155 South and conducted a traffic stop. The two deputies had placed both occupants of the vehicle in the back of the patrol unit. One deputy was in the front passenger seat operating the onboard computer and radio while the other deputy was behind the unit.

Smith said at approximately 12:50 a.m., the deputy in the patrol unit radioed that there had been a crash involving the second officer and a vehicle. Smith said the deputy received life-threatening injuries as he was hit by a 2017 full-size Mercedes Benz.

The deputy in the passenger’s seat was injured along with one of the detained individuals in the patrol unit. The slightly injured deputy exited the unit to check on the driver of the patrol unit. The deputy had been hit at a moderate speed and was launched under the patrol unit.

Smith said the slightly injured deputy removed the severely injured deputy from under the patrol unit and discovered he had apparently suffered head injuries.

The deputy was taken to the hospital where he later died. The driver of the Mercedes, identified as Daniel Nyabuto, was arrested and is charged with intoxication assault, which will be upgraded to intoxication manslaughter, according to the press release.