Accident takes life of woman and her unborn child
The accident took place about ten miles northeast of Hamilton near the intersection of Hwy 22 and FM1602 at about 8:20 Tuesday evening. Heather Ann Smith, 18 years old, was one of three people riding in the bed of a ’97 Ford pick-up. 24 year old Wesley Kepler of Lampasas was driving the truck northeast on Hwy 22. Approaching behind him was Adalberto Marquez of Clovis, NM, driving a 1994 Kenworth tractor-trailor truck. Kepler evidently signaled right but turned left. Although the vehicles were in a no-passing zone, Marquez pulled his tractor-trailer out to pass the pickup on the left. When the pickup turned to the left there was a collision.
Heather Smith was ejected from the back of the pickup by the collision. She was seven months pregnant, and both she and her unborn child died at the scene.
Four other people were in the pickup truck. Kassie Kepler, 22, of Lampasas and Michael Wilson, 39, of Commanche were both riding inside, while Raymond Smith, 19, and Kayla Bench, 18, both of Lampasas, were riding in the bed of the truck along with Heather Smith.
Wesley Kepler, Michael Wilson and Raymond Smith were taken to Scott and White Hospital in Temple. Kassie Kepler and Kayla Bench were transported to Hamilton Regional Hospital.
The driver of the eighteen-wheeler, Adalberto Marquez, of Clovis, NM, was not injured. He was ticketed for attempting to pass in a no-passing zone, but other charges are pending as the matter is still under investigation.
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