Carl Sidney Galm, 60, was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter in a head-on crash that killed a Pipe Creek family of three. The Oct. 29, 2024 collision on State Highway 46 West, west of Boerne, claimed the lives of Roger Louis Waid, his wife, Patricia Ann Waid, and their 14-year-old daughter, Blake Lynn Waid. As part of the plea agreement, Galm was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and must serve at least nine years before he becomes eligible for parole.
Family Killed On State Highway 46
First responders and local reporting say crews worked to free the Waid family from the Corolla, but all three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. According to Bandera Bulletin, authorities initially recorded only two front-seat occupants and later discovered the 14-year-old in the collapsed rear of the vehicle. The outlet also reported that the community held a benefit and funeral services the following month.
Crash Evidence And Plea
Investigators and prosecutors say video and data were key to reconstructing what happened that night. A Flock camera captured Galm leaving Boerne and heading west shortly before the wreck, which occurred roughly nine minutes later about 6.3 miles away, according to News 4 San Antonio. Data cited in the case showed the Ford F-250 was traveling about 93 mph five seconds before impact, and witnesses told investigators the pickup crossed a double-yellow no-passing zone while attempting to overtake multiple vehicles.
Prosecutors said Galm had no prior criminal history, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, and that a blood test later showed no drugs or alcohol in his system, according to News 4 San Antonio. The Kendall County District Attorney's Office told the station, "This 18-year plea agreement reflects the gravity of the unjustified risks taken that evening, which resulted in a devastating and entirely preventable loss of life."
Community Response And Aftermath
Local coverage has followed the case since the crash and noted a GoFundMe for surviving relatives raised more than $111,000 in the weeks after the wreck. The Boerne Star reported investigators initially saying speed was a factor and described how the force of the impact pushed the Waid vehicle into a fence while flipping Galm's truck. Prosecutors said the near-maximum sentence and plea arrangement were meant to hold drivers accountable and underscore the danger of risky passing maneuvers on county roads.
