ATASCOSA COUNTY, Texas – Family members and friends are mourning the victims in Saturday's deadly wreck on Interstate 35. Three good Samaritans were hit by a truck while helping a motorcyclist who had fallen in the middle of the road.
The crash happened just south of Lytle in Atascosa County, outside the Southside Bar and Grill.
Two of the good Samaritans and the motorcyclist died. The other good Samaritan is in the hospital.
For five years, Teresa Villarreal has been the local disc jockey for the area of Lytle and Devine. She's made a lot of friends, including regulars 45-year-old Rene Perez, his 36-year-old nephew, Ernesto Perez Jr. and their friend 41-year-old Ivonne Zavala. Villarreal saw them get hit right after closing time.
"You don't realize that the last thing you say could be the last thing you ever say to them," Villarreal said.
Eloyed Castro, 47, survived and is at University Hospital in serious condition.
They were hit by a single Toyota Tundra.
Witnesses said around 2:20 a.m., Rene Perez got on his motorcycle and left the bar. When he got to the access road, he somehow lost control, sliding in the middle.
That's when the three others ran over to help. The Tundra came soon after.
Department of Public Safety troopers did not charge the driver, saying he couldn't avoid the crash.
The Perezes lived 15 minutes away in Natalia. Visiting the scene, the victims’ cousin, Julius Cuellar Jr., said the family is in shambles.
Rene Perez leaves behind a wife, two daughters and five grandchildren. Ernesto Perez leaves behind two boys.
"They couldn't even come out here. It's just bad," Cuellar said.
"I just want to convey my sincerest sympathies to their families because they were beautiful people. They will always be beautiful people," Villarreal said.
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