Released from Texas DPS spokeswoman Jean Dark
UPDATE: VAN ZANDT COUNTY (KYTX) - An afternoon crash yesterday left five children dead and another three injured in Van Zandt County near the city of Canton.
The crash occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. when the 2003 GMC Envoy the children were riding in had a rear tire blow out on westbound IH-20.
The driver then lost control of the vehicle and ran off the north side of the interstate. The Envoy rolled several times, ejecting ten of the unrestrained occupants, before coming to rest on its top in the grass area between the interstate and the service road.
Dead on the scene were three girls: 13-year-old Rosvaelia Jaimes, 2-year-old Urit Jaimes and 6-year-old Saideth Acuna. Three children were flown to area hospitals. A boy, 7-year-old Omar Jaimes, was pronounced dead a short time later at Children's Medical Center in Dallas. Another girl, 3-year-old Ulisa Acuna, was pronounced dead at Renaissance Hospital in Terrell. The third child remains in critical condition at Children's Medical Center in Dallas.
Two additional children who were transported by ambulance to Children's Medical Center in Dallas have been treated and released.
Two women passengers, 34-year-old Estela Torres and 33-year-old Elida Jaimes, were taken by ambulance to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler, where they were last listed in critical condition. A 13-year-old girl, one of the only seat belted occupants in the vehicle, was treated and released from East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. The driver, 36-year-old Federico Esquivel Acuna, was seat belted and was uninjured.
There an ongoing investigation and no charges have been filed at this time.
From Marshall Independent School District
Statement/Information from Marshall Independent School District regarding the accident in Van Zandt County on Monday:
"Marshall Independent School District is deeply saddened by the news from Monday afternoon. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family members and our district staff who have been deeply affected by this tragedy. It is at this time we would also like to be respectful of the privacy of family and friends as they go through this time of grief."
Rosbelia Jaimes, 13, was an eighth-grade student in MISD
Omar Jaimes, 8, was a third-grade student in MISD
Saideth Acuna-Torres, 6, was a first-grade student in MISD
District counselors are available for students and staff.
UPDATE: Two children, ages 10 and 5, were released from Children's Medical Center in Dallas today. A 9-year-old child remains hospitalized there.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY (TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - The driver of the SUV that crashed in Van Zandt County killing five children Monday lost two daughters, two nieces and a nephew in the wreck.
And, he may also face five counts of criminal negligent homicide for their deaths.
The accident happened on Interstate 20 near Farm-to-Market Roads 773 and 16 about 2:15 p.m.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Jean Dark said that the 2003 GMC Envoy driven by Federico Acuna, 35, of Marshall, was traveling westbound when the right rear tire apparently blew out.
"The tire blew out and the driver overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle. The SUV then traveled down the embankment and rolled multiple times," she said.
Killed in the accident were Rosvaelia Jaimes, 13; Saideth Acuna, 6; Omar Jaimes, 7; Ulisa Acuna, 3 and Judith Jaimes, 2.
Trooper Dark said Federico Acuna was not injured and his wife 34-year-old Estella Torres was treated and released from East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.
Mrs. Torres' 24-year-old sister, Elita Torres, remains in ETMC today in critical condition.
Trooper Dark said three children remain hospitalized in Children's Hospital in Dallas and are aged 10, 9 and 5.
She added a 15-year-old girl was not injured in the accident.
"The investigation is not complete, but potential criminal charges are being investigated to include five counts of criminal negligent homicide. It is against the law to not have children restrained and it doesn't matter if a tire blew or not. The fact is they were not properly restrained," she said.
(Staff photo by Kenneth Dean)
