Father fell asleep at wheel, investigators say
A mother and son were killed in a car crash along IH-35 last week when their sport utility vehicle struck a parked freight truck.
Pearsall police say the family of three was traveling home on Friday, July 5, from San Antonio when the driver fell asleep.
According to a report on the case, emergency responders were dispatched to the southbound lanes of IH-35 near Milemarker 101 around 10:30 p.m.
Officers arrived at the scene to discover a 2020 Honda Pilot lodged under the back of a freight truck.
The driver of the SUV, identified as 51-year-old Mario Gomez, of Laredo, told responding officers that his wife, 45-year-old Lorelinda Gomez, and 10-year-old son Matias Gomez were in the vehicle.
Lorelinda and Matias Gomez were pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Shanna Gates.
During a roadside interview with the driver of the freight truck, officers learned the man had pulled over, turned his caution lights on and was preparing to put out his safety cones when he was struck by Gomez’ vehicle.
