Man Charged With Two Counts of Criminal Negligent Homicide in Connection with Mertzon Highway Fatal Crash

A 20-year-old San Angelo man was arrested last night in connection with the six-vehicle fatal crash on U.S. 67 near the Tom Green-Irion County line.

Richard Michael Garcia III was booked into the Tom Green County jail in the early morning hours Sunday. He is charged with:

• Two counts of Criminal Negligent Homicide
• Accident involving injury
• Racing on a highway, causing serious bodily injury
• Driving under the influence of alcohol

Garcia was the only person seen arrested last night at the crash scene. While in the back of an Irion County Sheriff’s Deputy Suburban, our reporter heard the suspect complain, “I’m going to vomit.” He was quickly whisked away in the direction of Mertzon.

Witnesses say that the black Honda Civic that Garcia was allegedly driving was travelling at high speed eastbound on U.S. 67, presumably racing another vehicle.

The six-vehicle crash happened approximately 200 feet inside Irion County from the Tom Green County line.

Since Garcia is charged with two counts of Criminal Negligent Homicide, it confirms what our reporters on the scene saw: Two fatalities.

That other suspected road race vehicle was seen last night crushed and unrecognizable underneath a tractor-trailer sand hauling truck.

DPS released a report on the U.S. 67 two-fatality crash near Mertzon and we have more details here.