A Dallas police sergeant is in critical condition with severe spinal injuries after a small plane carrying three off-duty officers crashed in a Forney field early Saturday.
The single-engine aircraft came to rest upside down in a field near Sage Hill Parkway and Helms Trail shortly after midnight, in what authorities have described as an emergency landing that went wrong.
All three officers on board survived the crash. One officer sustained minor injuries, and another was treated at a hospital and later released, The Dallas Express reported. Sgt. Joshua Boykin, who is in his 40s, remains in critical condition with what his colleagues describe as potentially life-altering spinal injuries.
Boykin is a single father of two and is known within the Dallas Police Department for his love of road trips, motorcycles, and horses. Days before the crash, he had celebrated his birthday.
Dallas Police Association President Sean Pease, who spoke about Boykin’s condition, said the sergeant had undergone multiple surgeries.
“It’s just a huge, you know, life shake-up. That’s what’s going on,” Pease said, per Fox 4 KDFW. “I was just talking to them, and of course, right now they, they want all the, all the focus to be, you know, on him.”
“He was actually in about his third or fourth surgery when I was over there today,” Pease said. “Yeah, they’re still in a very, very serious condition with a spinal injury, so it’s going to be a very long recovery.”
Pease said fellow officers are rallying around all three survivors, with particular attention on Boykin’s recovery.
“Every time I look at his, his Facebook, you know, I’m seeing him, and the statement he made is, if you ever get a chance to do these type things, do them, and such great life advice, but you know, that’s why it’s a big impact for us too,” Pease said, per Fox 4. “We’re incredibly thankful that everybody was able to, if not walk away, you know, they’re still alive after something that significant.”
Fundraisers are being organized for the officers, including a planned cookout. In addition, the Assist the Officer Foundation has started a fundraising campaign on JustGiving.com, which has raised over $10,000 as of Monday morning.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.
