2022-03-01
Deadly wreck on I-40 service road in Bushland happened during chase
Deadly wreck on I-40 service road in Bushland happened during chase
POTTER COUNTY, Texas (KVII) —
The Texas Department of Public Safety has released an initial report on a wreck that killed two and injured five others on Monday night in Bushland.
According to DPS, at about 4:25 p.m., Isabel Hernandez, 40, of Allen, was driving a 2007 Lexus RX 350 eastbound on Interstate 40 and refused to stop for a troopers' attempted traffic stop initiated west of Wildorado.
The Lexus continued to evade troopers eastbound for about 14 miles miles before exiting I-40 at Bushland Road.
Meanwhile, a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by Lana McBride, 69, of Bushland was northbound on Bushland Rd. and a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban, driven by Bertha Falcon, 54, of Amarillo, was southbound, both approaching the intersection of I-40 and Bushland Rd.
After exiting, the Lexus continued through the stop sign at that intersection and hit both the Tahoe and Suburban traveling through the intersection.
The two SUVs came to rest in the intersection and the Lexus rolled multiple times, ejecting an unsecured passenger. The car eventually came to rest in the parking lot of a business southeast of the intersection.
A 2020 Toyota Rav4 was stopped in the turning lane when the crash happened and the vehicle sustained minor damage from flying debris.
During the chase, an assisting trooper noticed one of the occupants in the Lexus throw a small object out the window. After the crash, troopers returned to the area and found a small bag on the ground with one ounce of suspected methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia.
Hernandez and a passenger in the Lexus, Adriana Velasquez, 31, of Mexico, who was ejected from the vehicle, were pronounced dead on the scene by Potter County Justice of the Peace Thomas Jones.
Three other passengers in the car were injured, Claudio Martinez, 25, Edson Velasquez, 25, and Cindy Martinez, 24, all of Mexico, were all taken to an Amarillo hospital with serious injuries.
McBride was taken by private vehicle to an Amarillo clinic for treatment of her injuries.
Falcon was also taken to the hospital but is listed in stable condition.
While trying to identify the occupants of the Lexus, authorities determined the four passengers were undocumented individuals who crossed the border illegally in El Paso. They were then picked up from a hotel in El Paso early Monday morning by the driver of the Lexus.
One of the undocumented individuals admitted to paying the driver an undisclosed amount of money to take them to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
US Border Patrol and Homeland Security Invesigators were notified.
Texas Highway Patrol Troopers are still investigating the crash.