RALLS, TX (08/19/2015) – Ralls High School science teacher Welda Cook was killed in a wrong way, head-on crash on Wednesday afternoon.
According to authorities, 61-year-old Welda Cook was killed in a head-on collision along Highway 207 in Ralls, Texas on Wednesday afternoon.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) investigators stated that at around 4:00 p.m., a 1998 Buick P4, driven by Daniel Martinez, was traveling down Highway 207 when his vehicle drifted across the center line and into the path of oncoming traffic. Cook, who was driving a 2008 Ford SUV, swerved to avoid colliding with the Buick, however, the Buick steered back into the northbound lane and struck the SUV head-on.
Cook lost her life in the wreckage; she had been an educator for over 20 years.
“Trying to replace a teacher with the experience that Mrs. Cook had is going to be difficult,” Miguel Salazar, the high school principal said. “But, more importantly, replacing the type of person she was is going to be even more of a challenge.”
According to reports, Martinez was transported via air ambulance (AeroCare) to Covenant Hospital in Lubbock, Texas. He remains in serious condition as of Thursday afternoon.
Funeral services for Mrs. Welda Cook will take place on Saturday, August 22nd, at the First Baptist Church in Ralls at 2:00 p.m.
“For her honor we are looking to push forward and get through this and start the school year as best as we can,” Salazar said, “because we know as an educator that’s what she would want.”
