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
September 9, 2009
Double fatality in Martindale
- Local News
-
-
City seeks land management input
-
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
- Residents have three more chances to speak up about desired city service level
-
‘Crossroads Project’ designs to be unveiled Thursday
-
Pakistani women visit with officials in Kyle
Kyle Mayor Lucy Johnson played host to a small delegation of women leaders from Pakistan during an informal meeting in Kyle's City Hall earlier this week.
-
Hope Hospice
-
BBB: Be wary of Do-Not-Call scams
Better Business Bureau warns consumers that scammers are making phony phone calls claiming to represent the National Do Not Call Registry.
-
Travis Geo Bee
-
Big drop into drink
-
Teen held for threats
A 15-year-old freshman student at Hays High School remains in juvenile custody after allegedly “making death threats towards other students, teachers and a bomb threat” according to Sheriff Gary Cutler.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
