Taking the ‘Can’t’ out: Community mourns loss of Maldonado

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.

Email

Submit

← Back

The community of Dilley is mourning the loss of a great man, a pillar of the community, and a faith-based leader following a tragic accident Friday night.

Carlos Maldonado, 47, a beloved local business owner known for his quiet generosity and deep devotion to his neighbors, was fatally injured in a collision on June 12 in Cotulla.

According to preliminary reports, the crash occurred at approximately 6 p.m. at the intersection of Main and Leona streets. Maldonado was traveling north on Main Street when his motorcycle broadsided the side of a Chevrolet Silverado that turned in front of him.

La Salle County deputies and emergency first responders arrived at the scene to find Maldonado had suffered major trauma.

Emergency medical professionals rushed Maldonado to the Cotulla – La Salle County Airport; however, he succumbed to his injuries before he could be transported to a San Antonio Hospital.

The driver of the pickup truck, 78-year-old Nolberto Perez, did not require medical transport.

“The Texas Department of Public Safety is leading the ongoing investigation into the contributing factors of the crash,” Chief Homer Olivares said.

Beyond the tragedy of the accident, the Dilley community is reeling from the loss of a man known for his deep faith and quiet, profound generosity.

Maldonado, alongside his wife, Sonia, operated a local screen-printing business where they made it their personal mission to provide custom shirts to children whose families could not afford them.

“My joy comes from seeing people smile,” Maldonado once said of his behind-the-scenes charity work, noting he always wanted to “take the ‘can’t’ out of the situation,’ for families in need.

Local law enforcement also shared in the grief.

The Dilley Police Department posted a tribute on social media recalling Maldonado’s character, remembering a freezing winter night when he unexpectedly brought hot cups of coffee to the on-duty officers just to show his support.

Maldonado is remembered by friends, neighbors, and family as a dedicated father, husband, and a compassionate soul who always looked out for his community.