Comal County officer was July 4 pedestrian victim
Contributed/Comal County Sheriff's Office
The Comal County Sheriff's Office is mourning the loss of Cynthia Young, pictured here in her official photo as a corrections officer. She was the victim in the pedestrian fatality following the Marble Falls Community Fireworks event in Lakeside Park July 4.
By Glynis Crawford Smith
The Highlander
The exhilaration of the Marble Falls Community Fire Works show was shattered at about 10:20 p.m. last night, Tuesday, July 4, when a pedestrian, Cynthia Lee Young, 60, of Spring Branch, was struck and killed as she was leaving the event.
It has since been learned that young was a corrections officer with the Comal County Sheriff's Office (CCSO).
As Young and her family left Lakeside Park through Falls Creek Park area, she was struck by an eastbound pickup on Yett Street at the intersection with Main Street. Her family crossed the street safely.
"Traffic leaving the celebration in Lakeside Park was down to not even an a trickle of stragglers when this occurred," said Detective Capt. Tom Dillard, one of a large team of Marble Falls Police Department officers on the scene or on duty until about 4 a.m. Wednesday. "We had begun our debriefing at the mobile command center when we heard shouts for help.
"We were able to get to the victim quickly and she was still alive when she was transported to the helipad at Marble Falls Fire Rescue.”
“It is our understanding she died at the hospital,” said MFPD Capt. Glenn Hanson.
Although the driver fled the scene, witnesses were able to give enough information to quickly identify Thomas Pfeifer Jr., 30, of Cottonwood Shores. He surrendered later in the night and was jailed on charges of a second degree felony: leaving the scene of an accident causing death.
“According to witnesses, he ran the stop sign,” said Hanson. “We suspect alcohol may have been involved, but those tests take time.”
"The investigation is ongoing," said Dillard. "An autopsy will be performed by the Travis County Medical Examiner."
The large contingent of the Marble Falls Police Department and other first responders was on hand for the Marble Falls Community Fireworks celebration that draws thousands to Lakeside Park each 4th of July. The Marble Falls Parks & Recreation Department combined a free pool party celebrating its 10th Anniversary with the live music and other features of the annual fireworks event.
Officers patrolled the park and offshore on Lake Marble Falls where many boaters come for a water vantage, with incidents no more concerning than lost dogs lost parking places and minor disputes between drivers over right of way.
Fireworks filled the sky over Lake Marble Falls before celebrants began making their way home. Cynthia began her career here at the Sheriff’s Office as a member of the Nursing Staff in 2009. She later transitioned to Corrections Officer in 2012 after medical services were contracted out.
The office of Comal County Sheriff Mark W. Reynolds posted a statement on social media: “Cynthia always had a smile and was a valuable member of the Sheriff’s Office. She was loved by many. We shall miss her a lot. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family during this time of great sorrow.”
The statement went on to say that Young had begun her career here at the CCSO as a member of the Nursing Staff in 2009. She later transitioned to corrections officer in 2012 after medical services were contracted out.
Pfeifer was released on at $10,000 surety bond. In 2014, he had completed probation that followed a plea agreement on a felony drug charge, but a misdemeanor traffic violation for speeding was the only other conviction on his record.
