Mother of comatose Nogales Firefighter pleads for justice

CREATED Jul. 2, 2012

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  • Tammy Vo Reports at 5pm Video by kgun9.com

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  • Lytle got his pilots license at age 16

  • As early as age 2, Lytle knew that he wanted to be a firefighter and would often ask his mother to take him to Tucson Fire stations

  • His mother and stepfather are pleading for someone to come forward and bring their son justice

  • Call 911 or 88-CRIME if you see this truck

Nogales Firefighter, Sterling Lytle, will be taken off life support on Tuesday.

Reporter: Tammy Vo

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Nothing can describe the pain that Sarah Lytle-Barcelo and her husband Casey are feeling today. They've had to make the decision that no parents should have to make -- to take their son off life support.

"I have not had a chance to truly grieve yet. It's heart wrenching and I don't wish this upon any parent" said Sarah who feels like she's in a bad dream. Her son Sterling Lytle will never wake up again after being in an unconscious state since Thursday.

At around 2:40 in the morning on Thursday, Lytle was in the car with another Nogales firefighter in Tucson when a pickup truck behind them began flashing their lights and honking, said Tucson Police. The firefighters pulled over near Alvernon and Pima in a parking lot. That's when the driver of an orange 2005 Chevy Silverado Super Sport pickup ran Lytle over. The driver took off.

"It's really tragic. He has tire marks across his chest and road rash all over.  They literally ran over his chest and his head.  They broke every rib and smashed his brain. We have made the decision tomorrow to remove him from life support."

Sterling's family says that he was adventurous and brilliant. He got his pilots license at age sixteen before he even drove a car. He took college-level physics courses in the sixth grade and his dream was to be a firefighter. Sarah showed KGUN 9 Reporter, Tammy Vo, photos of her son at age two sitting on a fire truck at a Tucson Fire station.

Sterling's dream of becoming a firefighter came true seven months ago when he joined the Nogales Fire Department. Fire Chief Hector Robles tells KGUN 9 that Lytle fit in with his fellow brothers and sisters from the start.

 

"Sterling was always willing to help anyone. All he wanted to do was save lives. To have his life taken senselessly... I can't comprehend" said his mom. She and her husband are pleading for whoever did this to come forward.

"The only way he (this driver) will ever be able to live with himself is to face up to the crime he committed which is strictly homicide at this point" said Casey Barcelo.

It was at University of Arizona Medical center 25 years ago where Sarah was given the best gift of all. "My water broke and I drove myself to this hospital" said Sarah, remember the day her son was born. In a sad twist of fate, it's where he will take his last breath 25 years later. Sterling's organs will be donated after they disconnect him from life support on Tuesday. The family is inviting friends and fellow firefighters to come to the Duval Auditorium at the hospital to say a prayer when it happens.

For more information, visit the Sterling Lytle Facebook page.

Tucson Police describe the man who ran Lytle over as Hispanic, driving an orange 2005 Chevy Silverado Super Sport Pickup with front end damage. If you have any information, call 911 or 88-CRIME. There is a reward in this case of at least $20,000.