Wise County law enforcement in shock after the death of a young deputy

A sheriff's deputy died in a crash in Wise County late Wednesday night.

Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin tells KRLD that 26-year-old deputy Lex Love died when his patrol vehicle ran into a concrete barricade on CR 4421 just east of U.S. 287 in New Fairview on Wednesday night.

Love was responding to another crash on 287.

Akin says Love worked as a jailer in the Wise County Sheriff's Office before becoming a Decatur police officer. He returned to the WCSO as a deputy in April.

"He is one of the best guys to ever wear the badges of Decatur PD and/or the Wise County Sheriff's Office," Akin said. "He's just a happy kid who wanted to get out there and help people."

Sheriff Akin told KRLD that Love's overwhelming desire to help others may have contributed to the accident.

"He has such a huge heart. You know, he was in a hurry to get there, and he just ended up running into a construction zone where there was a concrete barricade," Akin explained.

Despite their best efforts, responders could not save Love.

"We had deputies there within minutes, and he was already unresponsive," Akin said. "They pulled him from the vehicle and started working on CPR, and our Wise County EMS showed up. They were doing CPR all the way to the hospital, and unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries."

The loss has been felt deeply across the community and law enforcement.

"The family was there, and hundreds of officers were there (on Wednesday night at the hospital)," Akin shared. "That's just how much this kid was loved."

"It's been a pleasure knowing this kid and the things that he's done, and I've enjoyed the conversations with him up and down the hallway," Akin added. "We lost a lot last night."

"I've been through it a few times in my career, but I think this is one of the toughest."

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