Crash in Bastrop County kills three, including a young child

Update, 5:15 P.M.

Texas DPS has confirmed that another victim from Friday's fatal crash in McDade has died. 10-year-old Jackson Alexander passed away from injuries sustained in the crash. Jackson is the fourth victim to die from Friday's crash.

Update, 2:00 P.M.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has identified the victims of Friday's fatal crash in McDade that killed three people and injured three others. 

The victims were identified as: 30-year-old Angelica Ortega, of Hutto, two-year-old Aaron Galvis, and 43-year old James Matthew Alexander, of Cedar Park. 

According to authorities, Ortega was driving the SUV, with two-year old Galvis inside, that drifted into the eastbound lane of highway 290 and collided with a pickup truck, driven by Alexander. All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene. 

DPS said the two victims from the pickup truck, identified as Jackson Alexander and Daniel Alexander, 10 and 7 respectively, are still being treated at UMC Brackenridge and are in critical condition. A third vehicle was also involved and the driver of that car, 47-year-old Steve Guerra, of Austin, is also in the hospital and being treated for injuries.

Three people are dead; including a child, after a family was hit head-on by a SUV in Bastrop County.

Investigators said the family was driving through McDade near FM 2336 when a SUV swerved into their lane. Both drivers and a child in the SUV were killed.

A mother and two children in the pick-up were taken by Starflight to UMC Brackenridge. The father, who was driving that pickup truck, was pronounced dead on scene.

“Around 2 o’ clock this afternoon we had a very deadly crash,” DPS Trooper Robbie Barrera said. 

DPS, the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office, Bastrop Fire Department and highway patrol got a call Friday afternoon about the two-car crash.

“We had an SUV that was traveling westbound and, for some unknown reason, went into the eastbound lane of traffic striking a 1500 Dodge Ram pickup truck head on,” said Barrera. 

The female driver of the SUV and a young boy who was a passenger in the vehicle died in the crash.
               
“In the Dodge Ram pickup truck we had a family of four; mother, dad and two sons. The father is deceased. The mother and two sons have been transported by Starflight,” Barrera said.      

Officers said the family in that pickup truck was on their way to Houston for a funeral when they collided with the wrong-way driver.

“When a crash like this occurs we're going to respond and save as many lives as possible,” said Barrera. 

Unfortunately, officers were not able to save the lives of the two drivers and young child who died on scene.

“It especially affects us as first responders when children are involved,” Barrera said. 

Officers spent hours working to figure out why the driver of the SUV was in the wrong lane when the crash occurred.

“Right now it is still under investigation. We're using witness statements and collecting all the evidence,” said Barrera. 

Traffic was backed up on highway 290 for about three hours following the crash. The highway was reopened about 5 p.m., but police are warning other drivers to stay alert behind the wheel.

“It's very important that when we're traveling out here to pay attention to our driving. No matter what the situation is limit the distractions, make sure everyone's buckled up and just look as far ahead of you as possible for any dangers,” said Barrera. 

The victim's names will not be released until next of kin is notified.

The Bastrop County Sheriff's Office has confirmed three people, including a young child were killed in a crash on Hwy. 290 and FM 2336 in McDade.

Authorities said the driver in a SUV was driving west bound on Hwy. 290 in the east bound lane and collided head on with a pickup truck. Both drivers died in the crash, as well as a seven-year-old child passenger in the SUV.

A mother and two children, ages 10 and 7, in the Ram pickup truck were transported by starflight to UMC Brackenridge.

The family in that pickup truck was headed to a funeral in Houston at the time of the crash.

Texas DPS is leading the investigation. 

The road was has been reopened to traffic.