Two dead, nine ejected out of vehicle in fatal rollover accident

Two people died Saturday in a rollover accident that occurred on northbound Interstate 35 in San Marcos. 

The San Marcos Police Department said officers responded to the scene of a single-vehicle rollover accident at 200 North I-35 at approximately 7:42 p.m., where nine of 10 people riding in a 2002 Ford Explorer were ejected. Officials say witnesses saw the Explorer leave I-35 and flip multiple times, which caused the SUV to land on the east access road. 

Five adults and five children, all of San Antonio, were in the vehicle. Officials said they were traveling to Austin for a family gathering. Tamera Tychlle Gordley, who was driving the SUV, is suspected to be the only occupant to have been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, SMPD said. 

Speed and a blown tire are expected to be a factor in the crash, police said following an initial investigation conducted by the San Marcos Police Collision Investigation Team. Officials said following the initial investigation that it’s been determined that the vehicle was only suited for five passengers. 

Destiney Bridges, 24, was pronounced dead on the scene by Justice of the Peace Maggie H. Moreno. Officials said three of the five children — ages 7, 8 and 9 — were transported by medics to Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin and are currently in critical non-stable conditions. Two other children — ages 8 and 10 — didn’t require hospital care and were released to relatives, police said. 

SMPD stated that all of the adults in the vehicle were transported to Ascension Seton Hays in Kyle with multiple injuries. Sean Thompson 31, was later pronounced dead at the hospital by Justice of the Peace Beth Smith. The other two adults were identified as Dorothy Stinson and Eric Cooper 
 
Next of kin have been notified. These are the fourth and fifth traffic fatalities in San Marcos in 2020.