UPDATE: The victims have been identified as Elias Galaves, 26, Gerardo Ibarra, 42, and Axel Jimenez, 22, all residents of Progreso.
By XAVIER ALVAREZ and MARK REAGAN
Three men died Wednesday afternoon after the driver of the car they were in failed to yield the right of way and was hit by a semi north of Edcouch.
The driver survived.
In an afternoon news release, DPS said the crash happened at 2:04 p.m. and the preliminary investigation revealed a Peterbilt truck tractor-trailer driven by a man was driving west-southwest on FM 1015 while a white Chevrolet Silverado driven by a woman with three men who were her passengers was traveling east-northeast on FM 1015.
“The driver of the Chevrolet failed to yield the right of way and turned left in front of the Peterbilt,” the release stated.
The woman sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital while her three passengers died at the scene, DPS said.
The Peterbilt’s driver wasn’t injured but was taken to a local hospital per his company’s procedures, according to the release.
DPS didn’t immediately identify the deceased pending notification of kin. The woman also wasn’t immediately identified.
A reporter at the scene Wednesday afternoon observed a white pick-up truck to be upside down.
There was also a semi parked about a block away from the wreck and two state troopers could be seen around the vehicle, which had a black cab.
There was a large DPS presence Wednesday afternoon, but as of around 5 p.m., some troopers were observed leaving the area.
As of 5 p.m. the road remained closed and there was heavy traffic in the area as motorists took detours around the crash scene.
Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra also confirmed the crash Wednesday afternoon, saying that his deputies were on scene assisting DPS.
The Texas Department of Transportation office in Pharr also notified the public on Facebook of the major crash and confirmed that Monte Cristo Road is closed between Mile 3 Road West and FM 1015 due to the major crash.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include new information.
