POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Polk County Fire Rescue volunteer chaplain died after a crash Wednesday in the Eagle Lake area while traveling between fire stations to check on crews, according to city officials.
For four years, Chaplain Hector Cruz supported Polk County firefighters, offering compassion, support, and guidance when they needed it.
WATCH: Polk County Fire Rescue chaplain dies in crash while checking on crews
“The fact that he was a first responder himself allowed him to understand what we see on a daily basis what we deal with. Our emotions behind the badge. It allowed us and allowed him to connect a lot more,” said Tom Konze, the vice president of Polk County Professional Firefighters Local 3531.
Cruz was a retired New York police officer, an Army veteran, ordained minister and pastor of New Joy Ministry in Winter Haven.
Firefighters say he was more than their chaplain: he was a friend, husband and beloved grandfather.
“I don’t know how I or any of our members could do it without having a resource like our chaplains and chaplain Cruz to reach out to," Konze said.
Cruz suffered fatal injuries in the wreck, which happened while he was carrying out duties supporting firefighters and EMS personnel across the county.
Investigators say Cruz was leaving a fire station visit when a southbound dump truck ran a red light at Highway 17 and West Eagle Avenue.
The truck, driven by a 30-year-old man, slammed into Cruz's car — pushing both vehicles nearly a block onto the next street.
"It shook the building. I had somebody inside, she was doing the retail part and then she’s like, 'what was that?' I just screamed. I said we got to call 911,” said Dauphne Railey.
Railey owns Dauphne's Hair Salon located at the intersection where the accident occurred. She says crashes happen there far too often.
“Every month there’s a bad one. We’ve actually taken telephone poles and buried them in the ground and cut them off just so that when they do happen, they don’t come and hit our building,” Railey said.
Cruz had served with Polk County Fire Rescue since 2023 and was widely known throughout the department. Fire Chief Shawn Smith described Cruz as someone whose presence comforted crews during challenging moments.
“Chaplain Cruz’s influence was felt throughout the department as he had the ability to make a difficult situation easier. This ability is a rare one that not many can master, but he was one of the few who did,” said Fire Chief Shawn Smith. “Such sudden tragedy is never easy, but it is especially difficult when it is one of our own. My heart goes out to Hector’s family, friends and colleagues as they navigate this trying time.”
Officials said Cruz also spent time supporting community members beyond his work with fire rescue personnel.
Cruz will receive full line-of-duty honors, including a last bell and last call.
“He's is somebody that did it out of the kindness of his heart. Did it simply for us. There's no words to explain the loss of Hector,” Konze said.
Cruz’s celebration of life is scheduled for Aug. 26 at Champions Church in Winter Haven. The viewing is at 10 a.m. followed by the service at 11 a.m.
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