Man Dead After Head-on Crash in 18-Wheeler Pile-up in Concho County

MILLERSVIEW, TX — A driver of a 2001 Peterbilt truck tractor disregarded a stop sign Thursday afternoon, June 28, causing a crash with another 18-wheeler and a 2018 Chrysler van. The driver of the van, Michael L. Vandervoort, 66, of Abilene, was killed in the crash.

According to the Texas DPS, the driver of the 2001 Peterbilt, Luis Alberto Vega-Reyes, 48, of Miami, Florida, was on FM 765 and failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection for U.S. 83. DPS did not state his direction of travel.

Location of this crash:

At the same time Vega-Reyes’ Peterbilt was in the middle of U.S. 83, a southbound 2005 year model Freightliner, driven by John Lewis Hightower, 39, of San Antonio, struck Vega-Reyes’ trailer, pushing his rig into the northbound lane.

Immediately following the collision of the two 18-wheelers, Vandervoort, the driver and sole occupant of a new Chrysler van, was northbound and struck Lewis’ Freightliner head-on.

Concho County Judge Allen Amos pronounced Vandervoort dead at the scene. Vega-Reyes, the Peterbilt driver, suffered minor injuries. Lewis, the driver of the Freightliner, was not injured.

The crash happened at 4:55 p.m. Thursday. The roadways were dry and the skies clear, DPS reported. The posted speed limit at this location is 75 mph.