Eagle Pass Fire Fighter-EMT Killed in Head-On Collision, Another Injured
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2021
Eagle Pass Fire Department Fire Fighter and EMT Matthew “Matt” Fuentes, age 22, tragically died as a result of a head-on auto collision with a semi-truck shortly after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 on U.S. Highway 57 in Frio County near Batesville, Texas and another individual traveling with Fuentes was seriously injured and flown by Methodist Air Care to BAMC in San Antonio, Texas while driving a private ambulance for Camino Real Ambulance, Inc.
Fuentes and his partner had transferred a patient to San Antonio, Texas and were returning home to Eagle Pass when the fatal accident occurred on U.S. Highway 57 with the semi-truck in Frio County.
Fuentes and the driver of the semi-truck died at the scene of the accident while the front passenger in Fuentes’ Camino Real Ambulance sustained serious bodily injuries but managed to call 911 for assistance.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and area law enforcement and first responders rushed to the scene of the grisly accident and closed U.S. Highway 57 for several hours to investigate the accident and clean the debris while the injured individual was airlifted to BAMC.
Eagle Pass citizens were stunned when learning of the demise of Matthew “Matt” Fuentes in the accident, particularly among his fellow fire fighters and EMTs at the Eagle Pass Fire Department, City of Eagle Pass employees and administration, and Camino Real Ambulance, Inc. Co-workers.
The previous day before the accident, September 14, 2021, the Eagle Pass City Council recognized Fuentes at their special meeting in a ceremony for his outstanding dedication as a public servant as a Fire Fighter-EMT with the Eagle Pass Fire Department. Eagle Pass Fire Chief Manuel Mello commended Fuentes for his unselfish dedication and advised City Council members that Fuentes had lost his mother earlier in the year due to COVID-19.
On Thursday, September 16, 2021, the City of San Antonio Fire Department, accompanied by over 100 law enforcement and first responders, returned the body and casket of Matthew “Matt” Fuentes to Eagle Pass with an honor parade befitting of a young public servant hero.
Funeral arrangements for Matthew “Matt” Fuentes are under the direction of Yeager-Barrera Mortuary, 1613 Del Rio Blvd., in Eagle Pass, Texas, Telephone No. (830) 773-3211 and funeral plans will be announced shortly.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal expresses its deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of Matthew “Matt” Fuentes on their loss and prays the Lord give them strength and comfort in their grief and sorrow.
Rest In Peace, Eagle Pass Fire Fighter-EMT Matthew “Matt” Fuentes.
