A chain-reaction crash on State Highway 123 near Lovelady Lane has left the Seguin and San Marcos communities grieving the loss of 17-year-old Seguin High School student Chloe Belicek. What began as a minor wreck that disabled a vehicle in the roadway turned deadly when Belicek, riding as a passenger, suffered life-threatening injuries and died the following evening.
What officials say
The City of San Marcos told MySA that the collision happened just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, on SH-123 near Lovelady Lane. Officials said an earlier minor crash left a Ford disabled in a travel lane, and the passenger in that vehicle, later identified as Chloe Belicek, remained inside when a Dodge pickup hit the car.
How the crash unfolded
Local coverage summarizing police information reported that the Ford was stopped or disabled in the roadway after the initial collision when the Dodge pickup struck it, triggering the secondary crash. The driver of the pickup, who was the only person in that truck, was taken to the hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Belicek was transported with life-threatening trauma and later died, authorities said, and the crash remains under investigation, according to WOAI.
Community remembers Chloe
In the days after the wreck, friends, teammates, and school staff remembered Belicek as a multi-sport athlete and an active member of her church community. Local reports on memorials described gatherings at St. James Catholic Church, while an obituary shared by her family highlighted the impact she had on those around her, as reported by KSAT and Legacy.com.
Investigation status
San Marcos police have said the case is still open and that it is not yet known whether any charges will stem from the collision. Local news outlets covering the crash have noted that officials have not released statements assigning fault or detailing specific suspect conduct, according to MySA.
Why this matters beyond one tragedy
Crashes where a disabled vehicle is hit by another car, often referred to as secondary collisions, continue to be a serious roadway hazard and a key reason transportation officials push for stronger protections along the shoulder and in travel lanes. Texas has been revising its Move Over/Slow Down rules in recent years, including the passage of S.B. 305, which takes effect Sept. 1, 2025, and expands protections for people who are working or stopped at the roadside. State transportation officials are also still promoting move-over guidance to drivers, while national reviews have noted that many states are widening their move-over laws to better protect roadside workers and emergency responders, according to the Texas Legislature, TxDOT, and GAO.
Roadside safety tips
TxDOT guidance advises drivers whose vehicles become disabled to move out of the travel lanes if they can do so safely, switch on hazard lights and call 911 or roadside assistance. For motorists approaching any stopped vehicle, the state’s Move Over/Slow Down rules call for changing lanes when it is safe or significantly reducing speed to create space. Failing to give that buffer can turn a minor incident into a deadly secondary crash, according to TxDOT.
