Three die in I-45 blow-out tragedy

A DPS officer and volunteer fireman clean up the debris. Photo by Cindy Pate Texas Department of Public Safety officers and members of local volunteer fire departments were handed a gruesome task Saturday as they worked a two-car accident where three people were killed and three others injured on Interstate 45.

The crash occurred about 5:00 p.m. approximately seven miles south of Buffalo. DPS investigators say a northbound Chevrolet Suburban with a driver and six passengers had a blow-out, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle rolled several times before crashing into a southbound 2004 Nissan.

According to Cindy Pate, who worked the incident with her husband Troy, debris was scattered for approximately 100 feet. The driver of the vehicle had to be extricated and was pronounced dead at the scene. One other passenger was pronounced dead at the scene as well. Cindy had unconfirmed information that three occupants were ejected from the vehicle.

Life-flight helicopter sits on I-45 waiting to transfer accident victims. Photo by Cindy Pate Two helicopters were used to transport a child, who later died, and an adult to Scott & White Hospital in Temple. Another child and adult were taken by ambulance to local hospitals.

Killed in the wreck were Sugarland residents Juan Hernandez Chapa (the 53-year-old driver), Claudia Hernandez, 26, and Journey Ramirez, 3.

Griselda Hernandez, 52, is in stable condition at Scott & White Hospital in Temple; Julissa Guillan, 9, is in stable condition at East Texas Medical Center in Fairfield; and Julio Bruno, 1, is in stable condition at Madison County St. Joseph Hospital.

The driver of the Nissan, Omar Varela of Grand Prairie, was not injured.

Another accident occurred as a result of the traffic which was stopped for two hours. About one mile south of the fatality accident a driver was northbound and took his eye off the road for a second or two. When he looked up the traffic was stopped. He avoided a rear-end collision but took out the guard cable. Leona EMS arrived at the scene to assist until the Highway Department could be free from the fatality accident.