At 9:15 a.m. Magnolia Fire Department responded to a reported major accident with a vehicle fire. When they arrived on the scene they found a Ford F150 fully involved in fire and had just exploded. Next to it was a 1993 International Flatbed loaded with sheetrock.
AS the fire was brought under control firefighters discovered the burned bodies of Francisco Cantu, 28, of Rosenburg and Jonathan Candalaria, age unknown of Rosenburg also.
The driver of the flat bed, Wilson Alberto Avelar, 31, of 6310 Dumfries in Houston was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Woodlands. His passenger Danny Vladmir Rivera, 29., of Houston was also transported to the same location in stable condition.
According to DPS , Juan Jose Carrizales, 60, of 28536 FM 2978 was southbound on FM 2978 and with his turn signal on was waiting on the Ford F150 which was northbound on FM 2978 to turn into his driveway. At the same time another vehicle went to the right around Carrizales and passed. Behind that vehicle was the flatbed which applied his brakes and unable to stop swerved into the northbound lane clipping Carrizales vehicle and hitting the Ford F-150 head on.
FM 2978 was closed for 7 hours as the investigation continued. It reopened just before 4pm.
At this time the driver of the flatbed, Avelar, has been arrested and is being booked into the Montgomery County Jail on two counts of Criminal Negligent Homicide. Avelar had a standard drivers license and has been cited numerous times for not having a commercial license.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation. DPS also dispatched their helicopter to the scene for aerial photographs.
The bodies were transported by Eickenhorst Funeral Directors to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for autopsy.
EDITORS NOTE: WE ARE SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN POSTING THIS STORY. HOWEVER, AFTER LEAVING THE SCENE THE CRASH IN CARRIAGE HILLS WAS DISPATCHED WHICH WE ARE WORKING AT THIS TIME.
THE VIDEO OF BOTH WILL BE POSTED LATER TONIGHT.
