Published: February 29, 2008 11:19 am      

MAES leader killed

University group puts weekend science event on hold for now

San Marcos — A West Texas wreck that killed the president of Texas State University’s Society of Mexican-American Engineers and Scientists (MAES) has resulted in the postponement of the group’s Science Extravaganza scheduled here Saturday.

Killed was David Leija, 24, of Algoa. The crash also injured two others.

According to the DPS, Leija was a passenger in a 2000 Lexus that crashed and rolled after a tire suddenly lost air on IH-10 in Reeves County about 10 miles west of Balmorrea.

It occurred Sunday at approximately 5:55 p.m. and Leija was pronounced dead at the scene about an hour later. DPS spokeswoman Tela Mange said the speed limit along that stretch of interstate is 80 mph.

Mange said the car was driven by Angela Christine Bazan of New Braunfels, who was not injured. Passenger Crystal Lynn Casillas, 21, of San Antonio was transported to Thomason Hospital in El Paso; Carlos Mendoza Jr., 21, of San Antonio, also a passenger, was taken to Odessa Medical Center.

Mange said the car was eastbound and changing lanes when the left rear tire “rapidly lost air.” The vehicle went into a broadside skid into the south bar ditch before continuing up an embankment and rolling over.

She said one of the occupants was ejected.

Funeral services for Leija were held Thursday in Santa Fe.

MAES member Lizbeth Perez said Leija’s friends were shaken to hear the news. “We’re going to reschedule because his family was like ‘our son is working really hard on this, we would like for it to happen.’”

The MAES Science Extravaganza has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 29.