Witness of multi-fatality wreck speaks out – Uvalde Leader-News

by Kimberly Rubio, staff writer

The collision that left 13 people dead and two others injured on Wednesday afternoon was one of the most horrific motor vehicle crashes to occur in the area. Witnesses following the 20-year-old driver who is believed to have caused the accident captured the moments leading up to the tragedy on video.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the fatal crash occurred at approximately 12:23 p.m. on U.S. Highway 83 North, just south of Ranch Road 1050 in Uvalde County.

Leakey residents Jody Kuchler and his girlfriend Thania Sanchez called 911 to report a reckless driver at 12:04 p.m., and Uvalde County Sheriff's Office deputies were notified by phone at 12:05 p.m.

The wreck site is located 29.5 miles from the city Uvalde. Three UCSO deputies were on duty, and two of those were paired up for training. The paired deputies were en route from Uvalde to find the reckless driver when the accident happened. They arrived at the scene at approximately 12:30 p.m.

According to DPS, 14 senior members of New Braunfels First Baptist Church were traveling southbound in a white 2004 Turtle Top bus when 20-year-old Jack Dillon Young of Leakey, was headed north in a 2007 Dodge Dually pickup truck.

The church members were headed home from a three-day retreat at Alto Frio Baptist Encampment in Leakey.

Twelve bus passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, while two survivors were airlifted to San Antonio hospitals.

Rose Mary Harris, 64 of New Braunfels was airlifted to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where as of Thursday she remained in critical condition.

Addie Maurine Schmeltekopf, 84, of New Braunfels was airlifted to University Hospital in San Antonio, where she later died.

Pickup truck driver Young was also airlifted to University Hospital at San Antonio and is in stable condition.

Pronounced dead at the scene were Murray William Barrett, 67, of New Braunfels; Howard Bryan Allen, 81, New Braunfels; Rhonda Barlow, 61, New Braunfels; Harold Boyd Barber, 87, New Braunfels; Margaret Robinson Barber, 82, New Braunfels; Cristie Clare Moore, 68, Cibolo; Donna Elizabeth Hawkins, 69, Schertz; Avis Scholl Banks, 83, Austin; Mildred Goodlett Rosamond, 87, New Braunfels; Sue Wynn Tysdal, 76, New Braunfels; Martha Holcomb Walker, 84, New Braunfels; and Dorothy Fern Vulliet, 84, New Braunfels.

The deceased were taken to Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary.

Reckless driving

Kuchler and Sanchez were traveling behind Young as the couple headed home from Uvalde. Kuchler said the pair witnessed Young traveling at speeds of up to 80 mph. He also said he observed him swerve into oncoming lanes of traffic and nearly strike two other vehicles.

Fearing the worst, Sanchez took out her cell phone and began recording the vehicle they were behind. She captured nearly 15 minutes before her phone stopped recording. Kuchler said Sanchez did not record the impact.

According to Kuchler, Young veered into the oncoming lane and collided with the bus.

He didn't even hit the brakes, Kuchler said. He hit them head-on.

Calling for help

I told them they needed to get someone out here to get this guy off the road, Kuchler said of his call to emergency services. The dispatcher said they would send someone.

Kuchler said he also placed a call to the Real County Sheriff's Office but was told the alleged reckless driver was not in their jurisdiction.

I called them before we got to Concan. He drove 65 mph through Concan. He barely missed some other vehicles, Kuchler said. Whenever that bus came around that curve he went into that lane and hit them head on.

After the collision, Kuchler said he pulled over and ran to the vehicles.

I came up to the bus driver. He tried to lift his head to look at me and then he put his head down, Kuchler said of Murray Barrett. He was dead.

I could see two ladies moving toward the back of the bus, but I couldn't get to them. The driver of the truck was a young kid. He was alive and asking me to help him but there was no way I could get him out, Kuchler said. I did break the glass in the back and his dog jumped out of the truck.

At that time, Kuchler said several others, including a Leakey ambulance, drove up to the wreckage. The Leakey ambulance was transporting another patient, but phoned 911.

Utopia EMS and Uvalde County Sheriff's Office arrived soon after.

Other agencies dispatched to the scene included the Texas Department of Public Safety, Uvalde EMS; and volunteer fire departments from Utopia, Leakey, Reagan Wells, and Concan.

Concan Volunteer Fire Department employed the Jaws of Life.

It was the most horrific thing I have ever seen, said Rodney Jeffreys, Concan fire chief.

Please see Sundays edition of the Uvalde Leader-News for additional comments and information.

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Witness of multi-fatality wreck speaks out - Uvalde Leader-News