Waco, TX – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is investigating a fatal crash that left a woman and her 3-month-old child dead in Lampasas County on Saturday, December 7. Authorities say the incident occurred around 9:40 p.m. on U.S. Highway 190, just west of Kempner.
According to DPS, 28-year-old Destiny Ramirez of Huntsville was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer eastbound when she lost control of the vehicle as she approached a curve. Authorities report that Ramirez was driving at an unsafe speed, compounded by wet road conditions, which led to the crash.
The vehicle crossed into the westbound lane and struck a guard rail, causing both Ramirez and her infant to be ejected from the vehicle. Neither the driver nor the child was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.
In addition to the fatalities, three other children were in the vehicle at the time of the crash: a 2-year-old, a 5-year-old, and a 7-year-old. Like the driver and infant, the children were not restrained. They were all transported to local hospitals with injuries, though the extent of their conditions has not been disclosed.
DPS troopers are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash, and authorities have notified the next of kin. The incident serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of vehicle safety, particularly for young children, and the dangers of driving at high speeds in poor weather conditions.
At this time, Texas DPS has not released additional details regarding the crash, and the investigation is ongoing.