Texas State student to blame for a wrong way crash
UPDATE: UMC-Brackenridge Hospital Officials say the Texas State student involved in this accident is now in good condition.
A Texas State student is to blame for a wrong way crash that killed four people this morning.
The youngest victim was a 16 month old.
On Friday morning drivers made frantic calls to 911 to report a car going south in the northbound lanes of I-35 in Kyle.
Officers rushed to intervene, but say the driver, 22-year-old Wilson Rene Molinares, had already crashed into a minivan and a truck.
4 died in the van; a mother and father from Canada, their 16 month old son and the driver of the vehicle.
"It was horrific," said Judge Beth Smith. "I knew immediately when I got there that there were going to be several deceased."
Justice of the Peace, Judge Beth Smith, says it took firefighters two hours to pry the van apart to get the deceased out.
The car seats were crushed, yet a six year old girl and her three year old sister were uninjured.
Smith says an uncle is flying to central Texas to get them.
"We're thankful that the two small girls did make it and are unharmed," Smith said.
Molinares was taken to UMC Brackenridge Hospital where he remains in critical condition. He is a Texas State student who lives in San Marcos.
Smith has ordered a blood search warrant to determine if alcohol was involved.
The crash marks the third wrong way fatal on I-35 since August of last year.
On August 19th, police say Michelle Orduna got onto 35 from the exit ramp at the upper/lower deck split in Austin and started traveling northbound in the southbound lanes.
Her vehicle struck Clayton Keller's head-on.
Keller and Orduna's passenger Megan Mendez were killed.
Orduna was charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter.
Then, on November 11th, Round Rock Police say John McClintock , who was driving northbound in the southbound lanes of 35 near 620, struck and killed Domonick Turner.
Mcclintock is charged with intoxication manslaughter and murder with a deadly weapon.
"According to the National Transportation Safety Board the primary reason for wrong way fatalities is related to alcohol," said Mothers Against Drunk Driving Texas executive director Jaime Gutierrez.
Mother's Against Drunk Driving state executive director Jamie Gutierrez says there is no excuse for the crime with so many transportation options available.
"It's a needless injury a needless death that we as a community need to do something to make a difference," said Gutierrez.
If alcohol is to blame, Smith will file four counts of intoxication manslaughter.
"From the firefighters and myself our hearts and thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the decedents and all involved in the accident," said Smith.
Criminal records show Molinares was arrested for possession of marijuana in Denton County in 2014. He was given 12 month probation. That started 6/9/15 so it is possible he is still on probation.
The northbound lanes of the Interstate at mile marker 214 will be closed on Sunday from 6 to 10 AM for accident reconstruction.