Family, friends, and loved ones are mourning the death of a selfless Marine who lost his life while helping those in need.
Lance Cpl. Alberto Lucio, 20, of Smithville, Tennessee, was fatally struck by a truck in California on Monday around 3:20 a.m., after he stopped to assist people involved in a single-vehicle accident, WSMV-TV reported.
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Lucio, a military police officer remembered by friends and loved ones as a person always looking to help others, died at the scene after a box truck hit him and struck the disabled vehicle he stopped to assist.
Those who knew Lucio expressed profound sadness and described the late hero as a caring and humble man.
Jenny Norris, the assistant principal at DeKalb County High School, where Lucio attended and graduated in 2019, was among those who shared her thoughts on what unfolded — and on the young man’s character.
“He graduated. He immediately enlisted into the Marines,” Norris told WSMV-TV. “Alberto was a very kind and humble student. His father is a pastor in our community so you could see that in his life.”
The school honored Lucio this week with a moment of silence.
Lucio was a member of the Security and Emergency Services Battalion at Camp Pendleton, and was praised by officials there for his selflessness and service to others.
“Lance Cpl. Lucio gave his life in the service of others,” Col. John Black, the battalion commanding officer, said in a statement. “His actions epitomized servant leadership and personified the very best in our emergency services personnel. Please honor Lance Cpl. Lucio’s memory.
The driver of the vehicle Lucio stopped to help — a 36-year-old man — and a 31-year-old passenger were seriously injured and taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California.
The driver is expected to be jailed after release from the hospital and will purportedly be hit with multiple felony charges, though more specific information is not yet available.
Please pray for Lucio’s family, friends, and loved ones as they mourn this tragic event.
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