Eligio Garcia and Christopher Davis - Corrections Officer Fatalities - Texas

Corrections Officer Eligio Garcia, age 45, and Corrections Officer Christopher Davis, age 53, died in the line of duty on January 14, 2015, on a highway near Odessa, Texas. 

Christopher Davis (L); Eligio Garcia (R)

Both men were members of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.  

After 7:00 a.m., three corrections officers were transporting 12 prisoners in a prison bus from Abilene to a prison facility in El Paso. The bus struck a patch of ice on an overpass and slid off the highway and down an embankment. A passing train then struck the bus and dragged it along the tracks, breaking the bus apart. Many of the bus occupants were thrown from the vehicle. 

The prisoners and the guards did not have seat belts.  The prisoners were handcuffed together in pairs.  

Tragically deceased are:

Officer Eligo Garcia, age 45

Officer Christopher Davis, age 53

Byron Wilson, age 34

Tyler Townsend, age 29

Jesus Reyna, age 44

Kaleb Wise, age 22

Adolfo Ruiz, age 32

Michael Stewart, age 25

Angel Vasquez, age 31

Jeremiah Rodriguez, age 35

One other corrections officer and 4 prisoners were injured and taken to a hospital. 

Michael, Archangel, Patron Saint of Law Enforcement,
pray for Eligio and Christopher and for those
who have lost them

The causes and circumstances of the accident and train collision are under investigation. 

Eligio Garcia was known as Junior to his family and friends.  He graduated from Albany High School in 1988.  He had almost 23 years of service with the Department of Criminal Justice.  He was heavily into football and was the play by play voice at Albany Lions football games.  He was a family man who loved his kids. 

Christopher Davis had just over 17 years of service with the Department.  He did his best. 

Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, pray
for Byron, Tyler, Jesus, Kaleb,
Adolfo, Michael, Angel and Jeremiah
and for those who have lost them

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is in mourning over the deaths of their brothers. They will be forever remembered.

Eligio's and Christopher's loved ones are devastated over their tragic deaths. They will be forever mourned.

Both officers are survived by many loving comrades, friends and family members.

Thank you for your service to the community, Eligio and Christopher. 

Pray for all who die in the line of duty.

Pray for all who die by misadventure. They are with us one moment and are gone before we can say goodbye.

Pray that Eligio Garcia is in heaven. Pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.

Pray that Christopher Davis is in heaven. Pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.

Pray for Byron Wilson, Tyler Townsend, Jesus Reyna, Kaleb Wise, Adolfo Ruiz, Michael Stewart, Angel Vasquez and Jeremiah Rodriguez. Pray that they are at peace and are with God. Amen.