CHILLICOTHE, TX (06/04/2014) — Newlyweds Cristina Munoz and Nicolas Cruz were driving separate vehicles when they collided head-on while driving on County Road 87 near Odell, Texas Wednesday morning.
According to reports, the recently married couple both worked for Mahard Pullet Egg Farm in Vernon (60 miles northwest of Wichita Falls), and were traveling between two buildings used by the business in separate vehicles when the crash occurred. Cristina Munoz, 26, was driving a 1999 Saturn northbound on County Road 87, while Nicolas Cruz, 31, was driving southbound in a 1990 Mazda pickup. Initial reports say that Munoz’ Saturn drifted across the unmarked, paved road at the crest of a hill and the two vehicles collided head-on. Both Nicolas Cruz and Cristina Munoz were pronounced dead at the scene at 10:19 a.m. by Justice of the Peace Gene Morton. The couple’s three children are now left without their parents.
Department of Public Safety Trooper Jymie Ha told the Times Record News that “It appears speed and the layout of the road, including a hill crest, are going to be factors in the cause of the accident.”
As an accident attorney, I would be very interested in what the investigation uncovers. This road was paved, but unmarked, meaning it had no painted lines on the road. The accident also occurred at the crest of a hill with line-of-sight issues. Think of the marked two-lane roads you’ve seen. Around any blind curve or hill, the middle lane marker turns solid to discourage passing. Why were no similar precautions taken with this stretch of the road? My thoughts go out to the couple’s three children. I only hope that they have all the support they can get at a time like this.
