A tragic crash in Burnet County claimed the lives of 5 buddies, sparking outrage over the suspect’s launch with out sobriety testing.
BURNET COUNTY, Texas — The birthday video is full of laughter, smiles and singing. Within the video, Thalia Salinas, 23, sits surrounded by her 4 closest buddies — Ruby Cruz, Brianna Valadez, Jackie Velazco and Desiree Cervantes — as they sing to her, celebrating one other 12 months of life.
Every week later, all 5 ladies had been gone.
On July 25, the longtime buddies had been heading to the lake when, in accordance with the Texas Division of Public Security, a Dodge Ram 4500 pulling a horse trailer swerved into oncoming site visitors on U.S. 281 in Burnet County. Investigators say the truck hit a Chevrolet Malibu head-on, then slammed into the Mercedes-Benz SUV carrying the 5 ladies. Their SUV overturned and caught hearth.
All 5 had been pronounced lifeless on the scene.
Thalia’s youthful brother, Kaleb Salinas, says the final time he noticed them was full of pleasure.
“I used to be simply goofing round with all 5 of them, they usually had been simply so glad,” Salinas mentioned. “I gave every one among them their final hug, and I actually… I’m glad I did.”
Ruby’s youthful sister, Ana Cruz, mentioned her closing dialog along with her sister got here simply hours earlier than the crash.
“I instructed her I cherished her and she or he instructed me she cherished me too… and that was it, that was the final phrase,” Ana Cruz mentioned. “These had been the final phrases that got here out of my mouth that I cherished.”
Thalia’s older brother, Sal Salinas, remembers the fixed power and noise of their house when the ladies had been collectively.
“Simply an superior, superior particular person, very humorous, very goofy… cherished having a blast,” Salinas remembered. “Her favourite issues to do had been go to the seashore, go to the lake, something water… all 5 of them are commonly at her home… simply watching movies, listening to music, a bunch of random laughter very loud by the partitions right here.”
Anger over driver leaving scene with out testing
The driving force accused of inflicting the crash, 37-year-old Kody Talley, was not examined for medicine or alcohol earlier than being launched from the scene, regardless of having what the households say is a prolonged and troubling legal file.
“The largest one which hits house for us is that they let him depart the scene. No sobriety check, nothing,” Thalia’s older brother mentioned. “We’re discovering he had nearly 23 DWIs, drug expenses. It simply sounds irresponsible and sadly, our 5 households bought the dangerous finish of it.”
Court docket data present Talley’s legal historical past spans many years and a number of counties.
- DWIs and license violations: Talley has been arrested 3 times and convicted twice for driving whereas intoxicated. On the time of the crash, he was reportedly driving with out a required ignition interlock machine, which might have prevented him from beginning the truck if he had alcohol in his system. He was additionally required to have a Class A license to drive the truck, however investigators say he did not have one.
- Assaults and protecting order violations: Information present a number of assault expenses and repeated violations of protecting orders.
- Business driving questions: On the time of the crash, Talley was reportedly driving for his father’s firm, hauling a trailer loaded with horses — one thing the households say raises questions on whether or not he ought to have been behind the wheel in any respect, given his historical past.
Public data point out greater than 20 expenses filed in opposition to him in Williamson County alone, and no less than two in Travis County.
In response to an arrest affidavit, Talley’s truck swerved over the middle divider into oncoming site visitors earlier than hitting the Malibu after which the SUV. Dashcam video reportedly confirmed the sequence of occasions.
Regardless of his historical past, Talley was allowed to go away the scene after refusing medical remedy — with out submitting to a drug or alcohol check. Days later, he was arrested and charged with 5 counts of aggravated assault with a lethal weapon.
Households say expenses aren’t sufficient
The ladies’s households say the costs might have been extra severe if investigators had performed testing that day.
“We’re simply extraordinarily devastated,” Kaleb Salinas mentioned. “I’m additionally confused on why they might simply let him depart. There’s no phrases to explain that.”
They’re now pushing for solutions — and accountability — from legislation enforcement and the trucking firm Talley was driving for.
As they wait, they cling to the reminiscences of the final time they noticed their family members — laughing, hugging and singing collectively.
