STT. Church Ride Turns Tragic: Abilene Woman and 11-Year-Old Eula Student Killed in Devastating Crash
Late this afternoon in Callahan County, Texas, a serious traffic accident on Highway 36 claimed two lives, leaving the Abilene community and the Eula ISD school district deeply saddened.
According to information from KTAB/KRBC, the collision occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. near the FM 603 intersection.
The victim has been identified as Kaley Loren DeMasters, 36, a resident of Abilene.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
An 11-year-old girl, a student at the Eula Independent School District (Eula ISD), died en route to the hospital.
Her identity is not being released at this time to protect the family’s privacy during this time of grief.
According to the accident report released by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the vehicle driven by DeMasters failed to stop at a stop sign before entering the intersection.
This vehicle then collided with an 18-wheel tractor-trailer traveling on Highway 36.
Authorities confirmed that the truck driver sustained only minor injuries and has received medical treatment.
The exact cause of the failure to comply with the stop sign is currently under investigation.
National Highway 36 is a route with a high volume of traffic, especially heavy trucks transporting goods.
Traffic experts say that at rural intersections, strict adherence to stop signs and careful observation before crossing are key factors in preventing serious accidents.
Following the incident, Eula ISD issued an official statement expressing deep sorrow at the loss of a student in the school district.
The statement read: “We are saddened by the loss of a student in the school district following a tragic car accident. We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, classmates, and all staff affected by this loss.”
The school said it will implement psychological support measures for students and teachers in the coming days.
In the Abilene community and the Eula area, news of the accident spread quickly, followed by many messages of condolences and support for the two families.
Local residents expressed shock at the incident that occurred on a road familiar to the area’s inhabitants.
Authorities continue to urge people to improve their awareness of traffic laws, especially at intersections with stop signs.
Traffic accidents remain one of the leading causes of death in Texas, and authorities emphasize that even a moment of inattention or carelessness can lead to devastating consequences.
The investigation into the collision on Highway 36 is still ongoing.
Further information will be released once official results are available from the authorities.
