Downtown crash leaves Dilley man with spinal injuries

By Breyana Segura

A 29-year-old Dilley man was airlifted to a San Antonio hospital with severe spinal cord and neck injuries Friday night after a sports car slammed into a tree along East Colorado Street in downtown Pearsall.

Pearsall firefighters used the Jaws of Life to extract Garrett Martinez from the wreckage after the 9:15 p.m. crash on July 17.

Martinez was flown to Brooke Army Medical Center, where family members report he has suffered loss of sensation from the waist down and in his hands.

According to a report filed at the Pearsall Police Department, the driver of the car has been identified as 28-year-old Elijah Joel Martinez of Dilley, who told police he lost control of his 2019 Chevrolet Camaro after turning left onto East Colorado Street from a downtown gas station.

Following roadside sobriety tests, law enforcement officers determined the driver was not intoxicated, although the man was arrested and charged with reckless driving.

Pearsall Volunteer Fire Chief Placido Aguilar confirmed Tuesday that emergency crews were required to free the injured man from the backseat due to the extent of the vehicle’s damage.

A front-seat passenger left the scene on foot following the collision and has yet to be identified by authorities.

According to a social media update posted by immediate family, Garrett Martinez’ long-term outlook remains uncertain.

“He cannot feel anything from the waist down,” the post reads. “He also has no feeling in his hands. It is still far too early for doctors to know what his recovery will look like or whether he will walk again.”