Carmen Ruiz Obituary, Death – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has identified the woman who was killed in a head-on collision on Highway 57 early Wednesday morning. Carmen Ruiz, 50, was driving along the highway near mile marker 426, about five miles east of Batesville in Zavala County, around 5:30 a.m.
According to DPS, Ruiz veered onto the wrong side of the road for unknown reasons, resulting in a head-on collision with a Peterbilt truck tractor semi-trailer. Tragically, Ruiz was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash caused a lengthy closure of Highway 57, forcing motorists to take alternate routes throughout the morning as authorities worked to clear the scene.
This fatal accident marks the second deadly crash along Highway 57 in just two days. Early Tuesday morning, a separate collision in Uvalde County claimed the lives of five people. That crash occurred on the icy Nueces River Bridge and involved multiple vehicles.
DPS reports that the Tuesday crash began when a Ford F-150 pickup truck stopped on the bridge due to an earlier accident involving two Ford vans. Several passengers from the vans exited their vehicles to warn an oncoming Freightliner tractor-truck driver about the icy conditions on the bridge. However, the Freightliner truck failed to stop in time and collided with the stopped vehicles and passengers.
Three passengers inside one of the Ford vans—identified as 63-year-old Pedro Urquiza, 60-year-old Estanislao Jaimes, and 43-year-old Diana Lopez—died at the scene. The driver of the Ford pickup truck, 48-year-old Jose Artemio Rodriguez, was also pronounced dead after being found at the bottom of the bridge. Authorities believe the impact of the crash caused him to fall.
Additionally, Maria Pineda, the 60-year-old driver of the second Ford van, succumbed to her injuries from the collision. Seven other passengers were injured in the crash and transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Both incidents have raised significant concerns about highway safety, particularly under hazardous conditions such as icy roads. The crash involving Carmen Ruiz occurred on a clear morning, and investigators are still working to determine why she crossed into oncoming traffic. Meanwhile, the pileup on the Nueces River Bridge highlights the dangers of traveling on icy surfaces, as well as the importance of exercising extreme caution during winter weather conditions.
These tragedies have had a profound impact on the local communities, leaving families mourning the sudden loss of their loved ones. Highway 57, a major roadway in the area, has become the site of two devastating crashes in as many days, prompting renewed calls for drivers to prioritize safety and remain vigilant on the road.
As DPS continues to investigate both incidents, they are urging drivers to adhere to traffic regulations, use caution in adverse weather conditions, and remain alert to prevent further accidents. The agency has not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding Ruiz’s collision or the involvement of the Freightliner truck in the Tuesday pileup.
These back-to-back accidents serve as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of road travel and the need for heightened awareness, particularly on highways prone to high-speed collisions or hazardous weather conditions. DPS is expected to provide updates as investigations into the causes of these fatal crashes progress. For now, communities across Zavala and Uvalde Counties are left grieving the lives lost in these heartbreaking accidents.
