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Two Chillicothe residents killed in Wichita crash

Number of Vehicles in Crash: 3      Number Injured: 3            Number killed: 2

Date & Time: 05/14/23, 2:10 A.M..

County: Wichita

Location: U.S. Highway 287, 0.5 miles west of Wichita Falls

Posted Speed Limit: 75 mph

Vehicle 1:

2007, Chevrolet Tahoe 4 door sports utility vehicle

Vehicle 2:

2001, Chevrolet Suburban 4 door sports utility vehicle

Vehicle 3: 

2022, Volvo VNL truck tractor – towing 2018, Utility semi-trailer

Driver Vehicle 1: DECEASED

Sanchez Sustaita, Francisco, 45 years of age, male of Chillicothe, Texas

Seatbelt: Yes

Death Information: Pronounced dead on 5/14/23 at 2:12 a.m., by Justice of the Peace, Judy Baker

Passenger Vehicle 1: DECEASED

Rodriguez Hernandez, Rocio, 43 years of age, male of Chillicothe, Texas

Seatbelt: Unknown

Death Information: Pronounced dead on 5/14/23 at 2:12 a.m., by Justice of the Peace, Judy Baker

Driver Vehicle 2:

Christopherson, John Michael, 24 years of age, male of Midlothian, Texas

Seatbelt:  -Pedestrian

Injury Information: Transported to United Regional in stable condition with incapacitating injury

Driver Vehicle 3: 

Cary, Rodney Mitchell, 68 years of age, male of Irving, Texas

Seatbelt: Yes

Injury Information: Transported to United Regional in stable condition with incapacitating injury

Passenger Vehicle 3:

Poore, John Evan, 59 years of age, male of Holliday, Texas

Seatbelt: Yes

Injury Information: Transported to United Regional in stable condition with incapacitating injury

Description:  Preliminary investigation revealed the following information.  Vehicle 1 was involved in a previous crash and was disabled in the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway (US) 287. Vehicle 1’s lights were not working due to being disable. Vehicle 2 arrived after the initial crash stopping on the northbound shoulder of US 287 to aide Vehicle 1’s occupants. Vehicle 3 was a truck tractor towing a semi-trailer traveling north on US 287 approaching the previous crash scene and Vehicles 1 and 2.  Vehicle 3’s driver, when seeing the parked Vehicle 2, steered into the left lane of the northbound roadway to give space for Vehicle 2.  Vehicle 3 driver was unable to see the disabled Vehicle 1 and struck it in the left lane.  Vehicle 3’s towed trailer then struck Vehicle 2 on the shoulder of the northbound roadway.  The driver and passenger of Vehicle 1 were ejected from their vehicle and died on the scene of the crash.  Rain and the lack of visibility were contributing factors in this crash.

Weather Condition: Raining

Road Conditions: Wet

Investigated by: Trooper Justin Burger, Texas Highway Patrol – Archer City

Assisted by:  Trooper Brandon Roberts, Texas Highway Patrol – Wichita Falls

Sergeant Jeff Jinks, Texas Highway Patrol – Wichita Falls

Trooper Chance Boulware, Texas Highway Patrol – Archer City

Trooper John Horton, Texas Highway Patrol Commercial Vehicle Enforcement – Wichita Falls

Trooper Bryan Frank, Texas Highway Patrol Commercial Vehicle Enforcement – Henrietta

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