The youngest deputy to be hired by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office and his fiancée died after the pickup truck they were driving in was hit by an 18-wheeler Wednesday night in San Patricio County.

The deputy has been identified as 20-year-old Noah Calderon. He was traveling with with his fiancée and younger brother to Corpus Christi when they were involved in an accident with a tanker truck near Texas 188 and FM 796.  The tanker truck may have run a red light, San Patricio Sheriff Oscar Rivera said.

Calderon’s fiancée, Samantha Grace Handy, was killed immediately and the deputy died later at the scene, Rivera said. Calderon’s younger brother Luke Calderon was transported by helicopter to University Hospital in San Antonio in critical condition.

In a statement shared by Sheriff Javier Salazar, Calderon’s family asked for prayers and said, “We are deeply torn apart and still face a miracle for my 13-year-old Luke to fully recover. He’s in ICU and needs several surgeries.”

Calderon was one of the youngest people hired by the department in recent years, graduating from BCSO’s Blue Shirt Program at only 18 years old in 2018. He was working in the detention bureau and was planning on attending the Basic Peace Officer’s Academy to obtain his Texas peace officer’s license.

“Our community lost a young man that was absolutely going to run this agency one of these days,” Salazar said.

Just a year ago, BCSO posted on Facebook expressing their admiration for the young deputy, saying he made the department proud.

Calderon’s father Edward is a sergeant with BCSO. The young deputy was one of four children.

BCSO is making arrangements to transport Calderon’s remains back to San Antonio with an honor escort Friday.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash. It is unclear if the driver of the 18-wheeler will face charges.

“We absolutely have to be careful out there on those highways because there’s more at risk than just ourselves,” Salazar said.

Our thoughts & prayers are with the members of the BCSO and Officer Calderon’s loved ones.