(KYTX)- A good samaritan dies from his injuries after falling off a bridge on Interstate 20 near Highway 69 in Lindale.
26-year-old Steven Kloppe was trying to help a man who had lost control of his truck and spun out on the interstate late Sunday night.
While Steven was trying to help the driver, he slipped and fell over the slick railing.
"You say his name and everybody knows who you're talking about," said Julie Plunkett.
Steven Kloppe is a name you can't forget.
For several years, the 26-year-old worked at this Posados in Lindale as a bartender where he entertained his customers and fellow employees.
"They have this dance where you do your best Jagger. He would do it right in the middle of the restaurant," said Plunkett.
'"Right there in the middle, he would just bust out and start doing his best Jagger move in front of his tables and stuff," said Jeremiah Cagle.
Steven left the restaurant business last year to work in the oil field. Sunday night, he and his wife , Amber, decided to visit his old friends.
"We had a conversation that Sunday afternoon and it just happened he left his debit card here," said Cagle.
Steven went back to Posados late that night to get his debit card.
Sometime after that, he was on the interstate when he noticed a man in a truck had spun out of control. The driver of truck was pinned against the bridge.
Steven jumped up on the railing to try to help the driver get out of his truck. Somehow, he fell over this railing 30 feet below where he suffered major injuries.
"The driver of the vehicle said he looked back and he was there and then he looked back and he was gone," said Judge Mitch Shamburger.
Steven died the next day in a Tyler hospital from his injuries.
"Tomorrow is not promised and you should definitely tell the ones you love... you love them," said Plunkett.
"He would just go out of his way to do anything for anyone," added Cagle
A good samaritan's life taken way too soon.
Steven Kloppe
