By Andy Sevilla.
Kyle and Buda police officers were part of Monday’s funeral procession of an Austin officer who died in the line of duty in Hays County last week.
Five Kyle police officers and a cruiser participated in the procession of Lt. Clay Crabb, 42, of Dripping Springs, who died in a wreck on his way to work on Oct. 16. Two Buda police officers and a police car were also present to offer support.
“Officers put their lives in the line daily and they depend on one another for their own safety and the safety of the public,” Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett said. “And when an officer loses their life in the line of duty, it reminds us how important each officer is and it reminds us how important it is to remain a family and support one another.”
Crabb |
And that support is why Buda Detective Erika Simmons began collecting monetary donations for Crabb’s family. She said she solicited the donations on Facebook to help the officer’s three kids “through these hard times.”
“I posted it on my Facebook and it was reposted and money started coming in from citizens, coworkers and people giving out of their hearts,” she said.
Simmons said she has collected about $200 and more money is on its way. She plans on purchasing custom police teddy bears for each child, monogrammed with their name on one of the paws. She said each teddy bear will don a police badge customized with the APD logo and their father’s name and badge number on it.
The left over proceeds will be used to have a replica badge made for Crabb’s wife that she could affix to a necklace, Simmons said.
Authorities said Crabb was traveling east on U.S. 290 near Sawyer Road near Dripping Springs when his black unmarked police car hydroplaned. The roads were slick that morning from rain. He lost control and veered into oncoming traffic and was hit by a red pickup traveling west on the highway, officials said.
Crabb was pronounced dead on the scene. The 15-year APD veteran is survived by his wife and three children, according to his obituary.
