Dyess AFB Airman Killed in Car Crash Identified

ABILENE, TX — Dyess Air Force Base confirmed the tragic passing of Airman Ruben "Junior" Magdaleno, who died in an off-duty car accident in Parker, Arizona, at 1:38 p.m. on Sunday, November 25.

Junior Magdaleno, whose father is a pastor, was traveling with his wife Lexi Magdaleno and mother Johanna Magdaleno when their vehicle was involved in a head-on collision on State Route 95. The Arizona Department of Public Safety reported that the driver of a station wagon, suffering a medical episode, veered into the opposing lane, leading to the fatal crash. Magdaleno was airlifted from the scene but succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. His wife, Lexi, remains in critical condition at a Phoenix hospital, while his mother has been released from medical care.

Pastor Chad Garrison of Calvary Baptist Church in Parker, where Magdaleno's family attends, shared a video on Facebook expressing grief over the loss of a son and the suffering of a widow.

Airman Magdaleno, assigned to the 7th Security Services Squadron at Dyess AFB, was responsible for guarding the base's aircraft, weapons, and infrastructure. He had recently completed basic training in March 2022.