Local News
Double fatality in Martindale
Martindale — A 22-year-old Lockhart woman and her 12-year-old sister were killed in a grisly crash in Martindale on Labor Day that police say was caused by a drunk driver. Three other people were injured.
Martindale Chief of Police Jeff Caldwell said Anna Tovar and her little sister Carla Vasquez were pronounced dead at the scene on Hwy. 80 betwen Quail Run Road and Hwy. 142 — a straight section of roadway where the posted speed limit is 55 mph.
Jailed on two counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault is 37-year-old Ebony Runnels of Converse.
Caldwell said Tovar was driving a 2002 Ford Mustang southbound on 80 around 9:24 p.m. Monday night. There was a second vehicle headed the same way in the other lane when Runnels approached them from the rear in a 2001 Chrysler 300 "at a high rate of speed."
He said the Chrysler swerved around one of the cars and was trying to pass the second when it partially left the roadway. After that, he said Runnels cut back too sharply, smashed into Tovar's car and pushed it into oncoming traffic.
It was then hit by a 2004 F-350 pickup driven by 36-year-old Jesus Chavez of Kyle.
Caldwell said Chavez had tried to avoid the impact but that Tovar's car might have already been undriveable. "It's all very preliminary, but it looks like the damage to her car was enough that it messed up one of the front wheels. That makes it pretty tough to steer."
Chavez' wife Juanita and their two children, one nine and one eight, were taken to Central Texas Medical Center where they were treated and released.
Runnels was not injured.
The force of the impact pinned both Tovar and Vasquez in the vehicle. Their bodies were extricated by the South Hays County Fire Department.
Caldwell said the double fatality is believed to be the first traffic death in Martindale in 14 years. It remains under investigation.
- Local News
-
-
Dr. Brock Brown opens lecture series at SMA
Junior and senior honors students at San Marcos Academy added some geography terms to their vocabulary recently as Dr. Brock Brown of Texas State University challenged them to think about the “cultural economy” and its sustainability over time.
-
ATF blames Texas church fires on serial arsonist
Recent fires that destroyed or damaged several churches in eastern Texas were likely set by one person or group of people, federal authorities said Tuesday.
-
Cops search San Antonio landfill for missing baby
Police began excavating a landfill Tuesday in search of a body or other evidence in the disappearance of an 8-month-old Arizona boy who was last seen with his mother at a San Antonio hotel on the day after Christmas.
-
Geared up for rain
-
Land code to get close look
The city’s Development Services Department will host a public meeting to collect input into proposed changes to the Land Development Code Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins.
-
Don’t invite trouble: Choose your tax preparer with care
According to the IRS, 80 percent of Americans enlist the help of a tax preparer or tax software when filing their taxes.
-
TxSt recognized for Latino efforts
A report released Monday examines how a growing number of U.S. colleges and universities are adapting their educational practices and policies to better serve the needs of Latino students.
-
Green living showcase set for March 20
The San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce’s first ever Green Living Showcase will take place at the city of San Marcos Conference Center Saturday, March 20.
-
Southside Center taking applications for work camps
Southside Community Center is now accepting applications for the San Marcos River Work Camp program, where church youth groups work with Southside to renovate the badly damaged homes of local families at no cost to the homeowners.
-
Main Street program applications available
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) is now accepting applications from small, urban and recertified communities for participation in the Texas Main Street Program.
- More Local News Headlines
-
