KBTX - HomePage - Headlines

3 Killed in 290 Crash, Including 2 Texas A&M Cadets

Updated: Mon 10:53 PM, Mar 04, 2013

Commandant's Statement:

"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. 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."

Three people are dead, including two members of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, after a fiery wreck on Highway 290.

Harris County Sheriff’s Deputies say the accident happened at 3:30 AM on Highway 290 near Binford Rd. in Waller.

Deputies say a woman in a Ford Mustang was driving the wrong way on the highway, when she collided head-on with a Ford Explorer carrying three freshman cadets.

The driver of the Mustang, Katie Thomas, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Amy Pacheco, 18 years old, was reportedly driving the Explorer. Pacheco and the passenger sitting in the back seat, Miguel Hernandez, 18 years old, were also killed in the accident.

“The Explorer became fully engulfed in flames due to damage it sustained during the crash. Pacheco and the back seat passenger identified as Miguel Hernandez were unable to exit the Explorer and also became engulfed in the flames, which ultimately caused their deaths,” according to a press release from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say the passenger sitting in the front seat, Francisco Campos, was taken to a Houston-area trauma hospital with critical injuries.

Cadets say the three Aggies were driving back from a JROTC Drill Meet in Houston at the time of the accident.

Authorities say beer bottles were found in the Mustang, and alcohol is believed to be a factor in the accident.

On Monday, Campos underwent surgery for his burns and a broken vertebrae. He told reporters there that he was thankful for a family which had pulled him from the burning car the night of the crash.

Monday night, a memorial service is planned for the two cadets killed in the crash. The ceremony is set to take place at the Texas A&M Quadrangle at 10:30pm, where buglers will give a rendition of "Echo Taps," in which "Taps" is played by two musicians, staggered for effect.

The public is invited to attend that event.


We ask that the following Community Standards be followed:
  • Comments must not be profane or vulgar.
  • Comments must not use hate speech, racial slurs, or violent descriptions.
  • We encourage varying views to be shared. We do ask commenters to not personally attack other readers, groups, people featured in our stories, or other posters for disagreeing with their views.
  • Comments must not contain negative, comparative debates between community standards of cities or towns.
  • Comments must contribute to the discussion, flaming and/or trolling will not be tolerated.
  • Comments must be truthful and not intentionally falsified. Providing a source link is encouraged.

If you find that a comment violates the above rules, please use the flagging option located to the right of the comment to notify the moderators.
For a complete list of guidelines, please follow this link:
http://www.kbtx.com/home/misc/Online-Commenting-Policy-181579421.html
powered by Disqus

Highlights

JobSearch Recent Listings

The following list shows the 5 most recent jobs posted on JobSearch on KBTX.com

AP Video

Reason to Smile

Click here to view more pictures!
Click Here to Submit Your Pictures

Upload your photo, with a caption of your reason to smile, then watch the last half hour of BVTM from 6:30A - 7A Monday mornings to see if your photo makes it.

KBTX-TV Channel 3 4141 E. 29th Street Bryan, TX 77802 Phone: (979) 846-7777 Fax: (979) 846-1490 News Fax: (979) 846-1888
Gray Television, Inc. - Copyright © 2002-2013 - Designed by Gray Digital Media - Powered by Clickability
User Agent: CCBot/2.0 - 194644111