SAN ANTONIO – The youngest deputy to be hired in Bexar County Sheriff’s Office history was killed along with his fiancee in a crash late Wednesday near Corpus Christi.
According to the San Patricio County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, Noah Calderon and his fiancee died in a crash with an 18-wheeler on Highway 188 and FM 796 between Sinton and Mathis.
It appears that a tanker truck may have failed to yield and collided with the vehicle the victims were in, officials said.
The deputy’s younger brother was airlifted in critical condition to University Hospital in San Antonio.
In September 2018, Calderon became the youngest cadet to be sworn in as a deputy when he was 18 years old after BCSO lowered its age requirement to let people 18 years old apply for the academy.
Calderon was the top cadet in the BCSO Academy, setting several records. He was assigned to the Bexar County Jail Annex 3rd Detail.
“As an agency, we mourn the loss of a great man and a brother in blue,” Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said. “I ask that you keep Noah’s family, friends and everyone affected in your prayers.”
Salazar said Calderon’s fiancee is 21 year-old Samantha Grace Handy.
The sheriff said he believes Calderon was the future of BCSO.
“Our community lost a young man who was absolutely going to run his agency one of these days,” Salazar said.
The young deputy’s father, Sgt. Edward Calderon, is also a member of BCSO and is assigned to the Patrol Division. Salazar said Noah wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps.
“He was on a super star trajectory. A very intelligent young man who knew what he wanted to do,” Salazar said.
Memorial arrangements are pending.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash.
WATCH: BCSO Sheriff Javier Salazar responds to death of deputy Noah Calderon