Press release from Texas Department of Public Safety

Top Photo File Photo

01-22-25

DEL RIO – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is investigating a four-vehicle crash involving multiple fatalities that occurred on US 57 in Zavala County.

  On Jan. 21, 2025, at approximately 12:45 a.m., DPS responded to a four-vehicle crash at mile marker 420 east of La Pryor on the Nueces River Bridge. Preliminary information shows a white 2006 Ford passenger van towing a trailer was traveling east on US 57 approaching the bridge. A second 2006 white Ford passenger van towing a trailer was traveling behind the van and failed to control its speed striking the Ford van from behind.

  A white 2012 Ford F-150 pickup truck stopped on the bridge because of the crash. Multiple passengers from the vans then attempted to signal a white 2019 Freightliner truck tractor semi-trailer that was approaching from the west to stop due to the icy road conditions on the bridge. The driver of the truck tractor attempted to avoid the crash by traveling in the middle of the road but lost control and struck all three vehicles.

  Three occupants from the Ford Van, Pedro Urquiza, 63, Estanislao Jaimes, 60, and Diana Lopez, 43, from Dallas, Texas, and the driver of the Ford pickup, Jose Artemio Rodriguez, 48, of Fort Worth, Texas, were found at the bottom of the bridge and were pronounced deceased. The driver of the Ford van, Maria Pineda, 60, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was pronounced deceased as a result of the crash from the Freightliner.

  Seven passengers were transported to Uvalde Memorial Hospital for treatment. The driver of the Freightliner refused medical treatment. The investigation is ongoing.

Press Release by Texas Department of Public Safety

Ambulance Image by Chris Diller from Pixabay

DEL RIO – THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY (DPS) is investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on June 6, 2024, at approximately 4:40 p.m., on FM 1433 at mile marker 561 approximately 8 miles northeast of Carrizo Springs in Dimmit County.

  Preliminary investigation revealed a black Chrysler 300-passenger car was traveling westbound while a 1998 red Dodge pickup truck was traveling eastbound on FM 1433. The Chrysler 300 was driving at a high rate of speed, lost control, and veered onto the wrong side of the roadway.

  While traveling on the wrong side of the roadway, the Chrysler struck the Dodge pickup truck head-on. The Chrysler passenger car rolled over into a ditch and the vehicle caught fire. The Chrysler was fully engulfed in flames and was occupied by four occupants.

  The driver and passengers of the Chrysler were pronounced deceased at the scene and have not been identified, due to the severity of the injuries sustained during the crash.

  The driver and passengers of the Dodge pickup, Isabel Small, 50, San Juanita De La Cruz, 64, and Victor Manuel Martinez, 83, residents of Crystal City, TX were pronounced deceased; furthermore, two children from the Dodge Pickup truck were airlifted from the scene to the University Hospital in San Antonio. DPS Troopers continue to investigate this fatal crash.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

(Top Picture is of a Knippa ISD school crossing guard published previously by the Uvalde Hesperian)

 On Tuesday, February 20th, a Uvalde CISD crossing guard was struck by a vehicle during that morning’s drop off time.

According to Uvalde Chief of Police Daniel Rodriguez, the Texas Department of Public Safety is the lead agency investigating the incident.

News4SA reported the following on the incident: “According to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the incident happened around 8:00 a.m. Tuesday near the 900 block of Getty Street just outside of Flores Elementary School. The school district said U.S. Border Patrol agent Juan Francisco Perez, 43, of Uvalde hit a crossing guard after he made an illegal left turn. The crossing guard attempted to redirect the driver and Perez struck him with the pickup.”

“Officials proceeded to pull over the driver and arrested Juan Francisco Perez for Driving While Intoxicated with an open container and Failure to Stop and Render Aid. Authorities were also able to find out that Perez was a Texas Customs and Border Patrol Agent,” the News4SA report said.

Superintendent Ashley Chohlis issued the following statement later that day about the incident:

“Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Dear Uvalde CISD Parents and Faculty,
In an effort to keep the community informed with accurate information, I regret to notify you of a pedestrian accident this morning (Tuesday, February 20th) involving Uvalde
CISD’s Crossing Guard, Mr. Juarez, at the Studer Street and Getty Street crosswalk. During the morning drop off time, a vehicle hit Mr. Juarez while he was on duty. I want to
extend my gratitude to the school administration for their quick response and especially to our nurse who provided immediate medical attention until EMS arrived to assess Mr.
Juarez’s condition.

  Mr. Juarez was responsive during the on-site medical screening and was transferred to Uvalde Memorial Hospital for further evaluation. The driver involved in the accident was
detained by DPS. This incident is a stark reminder of the critical need for attentive, cautious driving, especially in areas frequented by pedestrians, such as school
campuses. Your vigilance and attention while driving can help prevent such unfortunate accidents in the future.

  Please keep Mr. Juarez in your thoughts, and let’s all work together to prioritize safety on and around our school premises. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Report from Texas DPS

Picture credit: Michael Robinson: File Photo

DEL RIO – THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY (DPS) is investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on June 11, 2023, at approximately 7:11 a.m., on TX Loop 517 approximately 2 miles northwest of Carrizo Springs in Dimmit County. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2022 white Ford F- 250 pickup truck was traveling northbound on TX Loop 517.

  A 2001 Kenworth blue Kenworth Truck Tractor was traveling southbound on TX Loop 517. The Ford F-250 crossed over the center lane, driving on wrong side roadway not passing into the southbound lane, and as a result caused to collision with the Kenworth Truck Tractor head on in the southbound lane.

  Due to injuries sustained the driver of the Ford F-250 Humberto Martinez, 30, from Kerrville and passenger Christopher Martinez 27, from Dallas were both pronounced deceased on scene. The other two passengers of the F-250 Eric Trevino 39 from Weslaco and Brandon Montoya from San Antonio, 35 were both taken to Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

  Driver of the, Kenworth, Oscar Rodriguez, 57 from Del Rio was taken to Dimmit Reginal Hospital. DPS Troopers continue to investigate this fatal crash.

   Picture by Michael Robinson

DPS released the following report:

 The 2011 black Honda passenger car was actively evading law enforcement. The black Honda was traveling eastbound on Nopal Street. Driver of the 2011 Ford F150 was traveling southbound on US 83 in the city limits of Uvalde.  The Honda disregarded a red light and struck the Ford F150 on its right side in the center of the intersection.

   Driver of the Black F150 was forced into a business store Amy’s Attic corner as a result of the crash. The vehicle came to rest facing northwest.

   Contributing factors: for the black Honda -Disregard red light.

  Driver of the Black Honda was arrested and charged with 2nd degree Felony Smuggling of Persons Fleeing 2nd charge. Smuggling of Persons with serious bodily Injury 2nd degree Felony. 3rd Smuggling of persons 3rd degree Felony.

  Driver Honda was 17 yrs old from Baron Louisiana and passenger was from Baton Louisiana age known.

  Driver of Ford F150 was from Brackettville.

   Injuries: Driver of the black Honda had no injuries passenger from Louisiana had minor injuries taken to the Uvalde Hospital

   Driver of the Ford F150 had minor injuries then taken the Uvalde Hospital.

 Texas DPS Captain Tellez and Lieutenant King spoke to the Rotary Club of Uvalde members Thursday, May 11th about the Texas DPS presence in town this past year and their work in providing security for Uvalde CISD campuses and events.

  “At the end of the day, we are here to safeguard the community, ” King said. Both Tellez and King said they have been stationed in Uvalde during the school year. After graduation, Tellez will be leaving, but King will continue to be here. 

   “We knew we couldn’t just be in the school just  watching the kids providing security. We knew that being a part of the community would be a huge, huge tasking for us,” Tellez said. He continued by saying the tipping point for them to get deeply involved in the community was the Halloween parade. It was a very strong event for us and we enjoyed it and we got hit by three Jolly Ranchers. (He was referring to all the candy that is thrown during the parade.)

  The officers stated that DPS traveled with Uvalde CISD students on trips around the state when students attended school related events. “We have people from the outlying areas that extend to all branches of the state of Texas. (They say) we know that wherever there is a Uvalde school bus, there will be some black and whites behind them,” Tellez said. We have gone to Dallas, Huston, Austin, Laredo, McAllen where the school went, we went,” Tellez said. 

  According to Tellez, after high school graduation in May, DPS would have a smaller footprint but we won’t have DPS presence at every school in Uvalde, but King Lieutenant King will be overseeing school operations.

   Lieutenant King said the partnership of the community has been important. 

  “Once we came here, we made it a priority we show the love and support to the kids, the staff , the teacher and the community,” Kind said. 

  Lieutenant King told a story of when a book fair happened at Batesville school. Some of the kids didn’t have funds. Some of the troopers on their own reached into their pockets and gave two to three hundred dollars. They purchased books for kids that could not purchase books.

 During the question and answer part of the meeting, the question was asked, ” Any agency with a presence in our community should something happen, do they have the freedom to act independently? They don’t need to ask who is in charge?” Tellez answered, “No”. Tellez went on to say if Uvalde (Police) comes across something they can take care of it, but we’re going to work together.

Tellez also mentioned that before May 24th, the different law enforcement agencies could not communicate between departments, but since May 24th, a system has been put in place where different agencies can communicate with one another. 

Picture shows a section of RR 337. It may not be the specific location of the motorcycle crash

DEL RIO – THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY (DPS) is investigating a motorcycle fatal crash that occurred on March 24, 2023, at approximately 12:46 p.m., on Ranch to Market Road 337 in Real County.

Preliminary investigation revealed a 2009 Harley-Davidson Trike motorcycle was approaching a left curve and failed to drive a single lane. The Harley Davidson struck the guard rail on the westbound side of the roadway. The Harley Davidson slid along the guard rail, the driver and passenger were thrown from the motorcycle and came to rest off the roadway.

The Harley Davidson motorcycle came to rest along the guard rail facing westbound. Due to injuries sustained by the driver of the 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle, LONNIE RAY ARD, 73, and Passenger EURINA ELAINE ARD 72, both were from Batson Texas where they were pronounced deceased at the scene DPS Troopers continue to investigate this fatal crash.

  A two vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of High Street and West Main Street/ Highway 90 as the driver of a Mitsubishi passenger car failed to yield to an emergency response vehicle just before noon on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2022. 

  The report provided by Texas DPS investigating the incident states the following: “The 2022 white and black Ford SUV was traveling eastbound on US 90 in the city limits of Uvalde.  Driver

of the black and white was responding to an emergency call with the lights and siren activated. The driver of the black and white was approaching the intersection of High Street and US 90, in the left turn lane. The driver slowed down, activating his air horn intermittently. The light was red when approaching the intersection. The driver of the Mitsubishi was traveling south on High Street. The light was green while entering the intersection. The driver of the Mitsubishi didn’t see anything until she noticed lights striking her vehicle in the intersection.

  The black and white took slight evasive action to his right before impact. The Mitsubishi came to rest in the southeast corner of the intersection. The black and white came to rest partially in both eastbound lanes of traffic at the crosswalk line facing southeast. :  Contributing factors: for the black and white -Disregard Stop and Go Signal (Fail to ensure safe operation that the cross traffic was yielding).The Mitsubishi Fail to yield the ROW- Emergency Vehicle.”

  According to the report, the driver of the black and White had minor injuries  and was taken to Uvalde Memorial Hospital. The driver of the Mitsubishi had minor injuries was also transported to UMH. There were no other passengers.

Just before 2 PM today a large bull was seen loose on Highway 90 approximately about a one and a half miles east of the Uvalde City Limits. The bull was spotted by the Uvalde Hesperian walking west in the east bound bar ditch as two trucks followed the bull.  After a few minutes of one of the drivers attempting to block the path of the bull, the bull was seen entering the highway slowing down traffic. A few minutes later the DPS patrol car arrived on the scene.

According to Sheriff Rubin Nolasco, he said he was told the bull escaped from the Regal Meat Market.

A driver who contacted the Uvalde Hesperian said she the bull charge a man who was standing on the highway trying to warn approaching vehicles about the bull.

“When we pulled up we saw a cop car and pedestrian truck pulled into the middle lane and traffic was stopped. We then saw the bull coming across the highway, the man was behind his truck and was running to the other side of the highway to warn oncoming cars while waving his arms. The bull noticed him and ran into him. It made him fly from the back corner of his truck to the front and he was knocked out. The bull then took off into a field,” the driver said.

About an hour later, Uvalde Police dispatch stated the bull had successfully been contained.

The condition of the man struck by the bull is currently unknown.