HOUSTON (KHOU) - Three people, including two cadets from Texas A&M
University, were killed in a head-on collision early Sunday morning on
Highway 290 in Waller, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Amy Pacheco, 18, and Miguel Hernandez, 18, both freshman students in
the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, died when the SUV they were traveling
in collided with a sports car, driven by Katie Thomas, 21. Thomas also
died in the collision.
Another freshman cadet traveling in the SUV, Francisco Campos, 18,
was injured in the accident and was transported to a local hospital in
stable condition. Campos, who is Pacheco's boyfriend, is expected to
recover for his injuries.
The deaths of the two cadets has left the Corps and A&M community in mourning.
"We in the Corps of Cadets and at Texas A&M University, are in
mourning over the loss of two of our cadets in a tragic car accident
early this morning," Brig. Gen. Joe E. Ramirez Jr., commandant of the
Corps of Cadets, said. "We offer our sincerest condolences, thoughts and
prayers to their family and friends and ask everyone to respect these
families and our cadets as we mourn during these trying times."
Deputies said that at about 3:30 a.m., Thomas was driving a white
2005 Ford Mustang heading the wrong way in the westbound lanes on Hwy.
290 near Binford Road when her car collided with white Ford Explorer
driven by Pacheco.
The HCSO said that the collision caused the Mustang to rotate clock-wise and come to a rest on the inside shoulder.
The SUV continued westbound and stopped on the outside shoulder. The
vehicle became fully engulfed in flames after the collision. Pacheco and
Hernandez, who was sitting in the backseat, were not able to escape the
vehicle.
HSCO said the two cadets and Thomas died at the scene of the accident.
The cadets were heading back to College Station for an official
function on Sunday morning when the accident occurred. They had spent
Saturday judging a drill competition at a Houston ISD.
Deputies found beer bottles in the Mustang, and alcohol is believed to be a factor in the accident.
KHOU photo
