Eagle Pass Union Pacific Railroad Manager injured in Head-On Auto Collision on FM 131

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber announced that a head-on automobile collision on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at approximately 6:45 A.M. on Farm to Market Road (FM) 131 near the Maverick County and Kinney County line resulted in injuries to the two drivers of the two vehicles involved in the accident, including Eagle Pass Union Pacific Railroad Manager Fernando Garza and Wally Martinez.

The accident occurred in northern Maverick County.  Garza lives in Brackettville, Texas while Martinez lives in Eagle Pass.  Both men were traveling to work.  Garza was traveling south on FM 131 from Brackettville to Eagle Pass while Martinez was traveling north on FM 131 from Eagle Pass to Spofford, Texas, where Martinez works at the Union Pacific Spofford Railcar Washing Facility.

According to the preliminary investigation, Martinez invaded the lane of travel of Garza and impacted Garza’s white Ford Explorer head-on on FM 131, causing Garza’s vehicle to leave the highway and roll over landing upside down.  The investigation is being conducted by the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department and Texas Department of Public Safety.

Both Garza and Martinez were transported to the Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center for emergency medical treatment of their injuries.  Martinez was airlifted to a San Antonio, Texas medical facility , while Garza was transported by road to a San Antonio medical facility for medical treatment of his injuries.

Both Garza and Martinez sustained injuries and are very fortunate to have survived the head-on collision.