Lubbock Residents Asked to Leave Porch Lights on in Honor of Fallen First Responders

On January 11th, 2020, the city of Lubbock mourned for the losses and critical injuries from our local first responders. Now, two years later, those first responders' families and friends are asking the community to be safe when they drive and leave their porch lights on in honor of them and to remind people to be smart when driving.

Starting Monday night, January 10th, through Tuesday, January 11th, which marks the two-year anniversary of the crash, the friends and family of these three amazing men are asking everyone to remember them by turning their porch lights on the whole time. Showing the community and world that we will never forget those who laid their lives down for the protection of this area. If possible they ask to turn them blue or red.

This is also a reminder about the 5-5-5, started by the parents of Eric Hill, to remind everyone that when they're traveling in bad weather to drive 5 mph under the speed limit, hug 5 people you love, and leave 5 minutes earlier.

If you remember on that fateful day, Lubbock Fire and Rescue Lt. Eric Hill and Lubbock police officer Nicholas Reyna were killed, while firefighter Matt Dawson was severely injured in the horrific accident.

Twenty-seven-year-old Reyna served with the Lubbock Police Department for one year. Following the academy, he served on patrol during the day shift.

Thirty-nine-year-old Lt. Eric Hill served with Lubbock Fire Rescue for 10 years. Hill had been promoted to lieutenant in July 2019 and was stationed at Fire Station 10B.

The injured firefighter/paramedic Matt Dawson had been with the department for five years. Dawson was stationed at Fire Station 2A.

The trio was working the scene of a pair of accidents  during a weather event in far North Lubbock on Saturday morning, January 11th, 2020. A third crash, which claimed Hill and Reyna's lives and left Dawson with life-changing injuries, was reported around 8:50 a.m. in the area of Interstate 27 and Drew Street (Farm-to-Market Road 1294).

I hope and pray that everyone is remembering and honoring Hill, Reyna and Dawson's sacrifices, not just today, but every day. I'm hoping that the city will come together to keep everyone safe and sound so this tragic accident doesn't happen again.