1 Dead, 9 Injured in Crash on State Highway 153

SWEETWATER, TX – A crash involving two vehicles on State Highway 153, 30 miles south of Sweetwater, resulted in one fatality and nine injuries.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash happened early this morning. 

Information states that a 2013 Honda Pilot SUV towing a 2022 Penske utility semi-trailer, driven by Antonio Munoz, 38, of San Antonio, was traveling northbound when it veered off the road. Munoz overcorrected, causing the vehicle to skid into the southbound lane and collide with a 2019 Toyota Tundra pickup truck driven by Brady Bill Lewis, 42, of Lubbock.

Munoz was transported to Hendrick Memorial Center-North with non-incapacitating injuries. His 10-year-old child, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Earl Donnel at 7:15 a.m. The child was ejected from the vehicle. 

Nakud Torres, 37, a female passenger in Munoz's vehicle, sustained incapacitating injuries and is in stable condition at Hendrick Medical Center-North. Two other children in the vehicle, a 17-year-old male and a 9-year-old male, were transported to Cook Children’s Hospital.

Lewis and his passengers were also injured. Jessica Ann Davis, 39, and their three children, aged 8, 5, and 14, all from Lubbock, sustained injuries and were transported to Hendrick Medical Center-North, where they are in stable condition.

The investigation revealed that Munoz's vehicle drifted off the roadway, and upon overcorrecting, entered the southbound lane in a side skid, colliding with Lewis's vehicle as it was cresting a hill.

The crash was investigated by Texas Highway Patrol - Abilene, with assistance from deputies with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office.

Weather conditions were clear, and the road was dry at the time of the crash. The posted speed limit on the highway is 65 mph.

According to the Wingate VFD, in addition to themselves, South Taylor EMS, MetroCare EMS, the Abilene Fire Department, Moro Fire Department, AirMed 1, and TxDOT worked the scene.