Enid School Crossing Guard Hit By Truck Will Donate Organs

The family of a crossing guard for Enid Public Schools said he will donate his organs after he was hit by a pickup truck outside the school he served.

Dan Luskey, 61, was a crossing guard at Glenwood Elementary and a pastor at Sonrise Fellowship Church. 

On Wednesday afternoon, just before 3 p.m., 49-year-old Roberto Cruz Lopez was turning from North Oakwood Road onto West Chestnut Avenue just outside the school when his Ford F250 hit Luskey, said Enid Police in an incident report.

Although Cruz Lopez told officers that Luskey was not in the crosswalk, witnesses said Luskey was walking in the crosswalk, with one witness saying Luskey was holding a stop sign when he was hit, according to the police report. Cruz Lopez also said he could not see Luskey because of the sun, the police report stated.

Police said Cruz Lopez did not have a driver's license and only had a Mexican passport. Less than two weeks before the crash, police said they had cited Cruz Lopez for speeding, driving without a license, and not having valid insurance.

First responders rushed Luskey to a hospital in Oklahoma City. But his brother posted on Facebook that Luskey suffered catastrophic brain injuries and was expected to be taken off life support on Friday unless he makes a recovery. On Friday, the brother posted that Luskey will donate his organs. The procedure is scheduled for Saturday, so Luskey will remain on life support until then.

Police arrested Cruz Lopez on complaints of causing a collision with great bodily injury by driving without a license, driving without a valid license, and failure to devote attention to driving, among others. Cass Rains, public information coordinator for Enid Police, said the complaints could be upgraded in light of news that Luskey would be taken off life support.

Aaron Foor, the Church Advance Specialist for Alliance South Central, a district in the Christian Missionary Alliance, had known Luskey for a little over a year because the church where Luskey pastored is part of the CMA. Foor said while he mentored Luskey, he also considered Luskey a friend. “Whether you knew Dan for five minutes or 50 years, you were loved by Dan," said Foor. "I think if Dan was here, he'd probably be trying to figure out a way to - to love on and help the guy that hit him with the truck."

Foor said when he heard about the crash, it "felt like a gut punch." He said Luskey will be missed for his willingness to serve two roles. 

"I said, 'Do you want to be a full-time pastor?' He said, 'No!' He said, 'I want to be a crossing guard and I want to serve after school in the community and pastor," Foor recalled. 

Luskey was also known for dressing in costumes, including superhero attire. "I think the dressing up and connecting with people was a natural part of who he is and I think God used that in a way for him to connect and care for people," said Foor.

A spokesperson for Enid Public Schools released a statement that said, in part:

 "We are heartbroken as Dan is a great employee and has worked for the district in several different roles since 2014. The children kindly referred to him as Mr. Dan. He is a great guy, always smiling and setting a great example for young people."

A friend created a GoFundMe page to benefit Luskey's family. Click here to donate.