A 67-year-old Houston man was killed Friday afternoon in a violent two-vehicle collision on a rural stretch of Farm-to-Market Road 755 near the tiny community of La Gloria in Starr County. Troopers say he was riding as a passenger when one pickup crossed into oncoming traffic and slammed into a trailer being towed by another pickup. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the southbound vehicle was taken to a McAllen hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the other driver did not seek medical care.
What officials said
The crash happened around 1:40 p.m. on FM 755, just south of FM 1017 near La Gloria, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety news release cited by KRGV. Investigators say a gray Dodge 1500 traveling southbound veered into the northbound lane, forcing a silver Dodge Ram towing a trailer to swerve in an attempt to avoid a head-on impact. Despite that evasive move, the southbound truck still collided with the trailer.
Victim and response
State troopers and local reporting identified the passenger who died as Noelio Garza Peña, 67, of Houston, according to MyRGV. The driver of the southbound pickup was transported to South Texas Health System McAllen with what officials described as non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Ram declined treatment at the scene.
Investigation underway
The Texas Department of Public Safety told local outlets that troopers are still piecing together what led the southbound truck to cross into oncoming traffic, KRGV reports. Authorities have not released any information on potential contributing factors such as impairment or speed while the investigation continues. Troopers have asked anyone with video or additional information about the crash to contact DPS.
