2 killed, 1 seriously hurt in Richardson accident
Posted on 01/06/2003 1:09:34 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
2 killed, 1 seriously hurt in Richardson accident
01/06/2003
Two people were killed and a teenager was seriously injured Sunday evening when a car collided with a minivan at a Richardson intersection then smashed into a utility pole, police said.
The accident at East Belt Line Road and Yale Boulevard killed the car's 19-year-old driver, who was identified as Nicolaza Estrada of Garland.
A 24-year-old passenger, Martin Quintana of Garland, was pronounced dead a short time later at a Richardson hospital. A 15-year-old Garland boy, whose name was not released, was taken by helicopter to Parkland Memorial Hospital with head injuries, police said. His condition was not available late Sunday night.
MARK M. HANCOCK / DMN A car was crumpled after crashing into a utility pole Sunday evening at East Belt Line Road and Yale Boulevard in Richardson. Two people died and a 15-year-old was sent to the hospital with head injuries. |
Two people in the minivan, which collided with the car before it hit the pole, were not injured, police said.
The crash occurred about 5 p.m. as the car was westbound on Belt Line near Richardson Square Mall.
The minivan, which was approaching from the east on Belt Line, turned left on Yale, colliding with the car, police said.
Whether the minivan entered the intersection legally was not known late Sunday, police said.
The investigation continued Sunday night.
"Speed, I'm sure, will be some factor in this," said Sgt. Danny Martin, a Richardson police spokesman.
He said that the car probably was traveling faster than the posted 40-mph limit. "They had to be going at a pretty good speed," he said.
"I looked up, and I could see the car crashing into the pole," said Nathan Liska, 17, who was driving near the intersection when the accident occurred. "It was pretty devastating. I haven't seen that much damage on a car. ... I was in shock."
The car crumpled into a twisted mass and snapped the pole at its base, causing some nearby residents' power to flicker.
The power was shut off for at least a half hour later in the evening as power company workers installed a new pole, an Oncor Electric Delivery Co. spokesman said.
Zachery Carmen, who was standing in his yard near the intersection when the car hit the pole, said he heard screeching tires and the crash.
"I saw the light pole go over and start sparking really bad," said Mr. Carmen, 18, who ran to scene to help. "You couldn't even tell what kind of car it was. ... I was stunned. It's the first time I've ever seen anything like this."
E-mail mstiles@dallasnews.com
I like your squashed bug there, meekie!
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