Latest news with #ThaliaSalinas
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Families seek justice after man arrested in crash that killed five friends from North Texas
Grieving families are demanding justice after a crash on Highway 281 in Burnet County claimed the lives of five young women from the Dallas area. The victims — Thalia Salinas, Ruby Cruz, Brianna Valadez, Desiree Cervantez, and Jacqueline Velazco — were close friends, described by loved ones as "like sisters." The crash happened two weeks ago as the group was headed to Kingsland to celebrate Thalia's 23rd birthday. According to investigators, a truck pulling a livestock trailer veered into oncoming traffic, hitting multiple vehicles. The SUV carrying the women flipped and caught fire. The driver, Kody Lane Talley, is facing five counts of manslaughter, but families say that's not enough. They're questioning why Talley — who has 22 prior criminal charges, including two DWIs — was not tested for alcohol or drugs at the scene, and why he was arrested 11 days later. "Honestly, right now, I'm speechless. Still shocked. I just want the truth to come out. I just want justice to be served. These girls deserve justice," said Ana Cruz, Ruby's sister. "We would always go on our sister dates. And I'm going to miss those so much. She was my everything. She was my other half. I know everything about her. I know her favorite color was pink. I know her favorite songs. I know everything about her," Cruz added. "They've been friends pretty much since, like, middle school. High school. So whenever I came to my mom's house, they were always all here," said Sal Salinas, Thalia's brother. The family was just 45 minutes behind the group when they learned of the crash. "As we were on our way over there, the maps redirected, and it said that there was a crash. So, I mean, we had no idea. We were just 45 minutes behind her," Salinas said. Court documents reviewed by CBS News Texas reporter Briseda Holguin reveal that Talley left the scene before speaking with troopers. Dash cam footage reportedly shows Talley's vehicle striking both cars, and data from the truck indicates the accelerator pedal was fully pressed seconds before impact. "I think the more I learn about what's happened and details come in, it's just anger," said one family member. "We were made aware that that individual wasn't arrested or tested for alcohol or marijuana—anything. So it's, you know, we're very confused," another added. Three of the families are now being represented by the same attorney as they continue to seek justice for their daughters.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Group of best friends killed when SUV flipped and burst into flames after driver slammed into oncoming traffic
A group of five best friends in their early twenties were killed in a horrific crash while they were on a trip to a vacation house in Texas. The victims in the July 25 collision were identified as Thalia Salinas, Ruby Cruz, Brianna Valadez, Desiree Cervantez, and Jacqueline Velazco. The women were in the same Mercedes SUV together on US 281 near Austin when a 2018 Ram 4500 truck pulling a livestock trailer hit them. The truck had been traveling northbound but veered into the southbound lanes, colliding with multiple vehicles. The SUV carrying the women flipped on impact and caught fire, killing everyone inside, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). All five women were from the Dallas area and considered each other sisters, their families have said. They were on their way to a lake house in central Texas to celebrate Thalia's 23rd birthday. Thalia was driving the car at the time of the crash. 'You go to the lake house and you see the cops and you see this reality and that's when it sinks in,' Sal Salinas, Thalia's older brother, told FOX 4. 'We were devastated. Everyone was. To see my mom devastated and my was very hard.' The group of friends were on their way to vacation when they were tragically killed Pictured: Ruby Cruz (left) and Brianna Valadez were also killed after the Mercedes flipped over and burst into flaes In a statement shared with CBS News, the Salinas family mourned the loss of Thalia and her four best friends, who have been close since middle school. 'Words can't describe how devastated we are,' they said. 'We were en route to celebrate Thalia's birthday in Kingsland, Texas, at her favorite place — on the lake — with all her favorite people. Then we got news of the girls' passing away in the worst accident we could ever imagine.' Drivers of the other vehicles that were hit by the truck survived with minor injuries, according to authorities. A little less than two weeks after the five women were killed, the man police suspect was driving the truck was arrested. On Tuesday, DPS officers arrested Kody Lane Talley and booked him into the Burnet County Jail. DPS troopers said that Talley, 37, ditched the truck after ramming it into a fence. He also refused medical treatment on the scene. Talley now faces five counts of manslaughter. According to a crash report viewed by FOX 4, Talley was not tested for drugs or alcohol on the day of the incident. Each family created a GoFundMe page for their loved ones to help pay for their funerals, which are all happening this week. Thalia, who had just celebrated her nephew's 1st birthday the week before she was killed, was described as 'quiet,' but the funniest person in the room to people who knew her. 'She was witty, intelligent, loyal, and the true manager of our household, always keeping us all in line. If you were lucky to call her a friend, she was the best friend you had,' the family wrote in the GoFundMe description. The fundraisers for all the women raised tens of thousands of dollars. Combined, people have donated nearly $100,000 to the victims' families.
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
Central Texas man charged in fiery crash that killed 5 Dallas-area women on birthday trip, DPS says
A Central Texas man is facing five counts of manslaughter after a fiery crash near Austin last month killed five Dallas-area women on a birthday trip, authorities said Wednesday. Kody Lane Talley, 37, of Leander, is being held on a $1 million bond in the Burnet County Jail, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The crash happened about 6 p.m. on July 25 on U.S. 281 near Park Road 4 in Burnet County. Talley was driving a 2018 Ram 4500 pickup truck pulling a livestock trailer northbound when he veered into the southbound lanes. DPS said his truck struck a Chevrolet Malibu head-on, then collided with a Mercedes SUV, which overturned and caught fire. All five occupants of the SUV — Thalia Salinas, Ruby Cruz, Brianna Valadez, Desiree Cervantez, and Jacqueline Velazco Ventura — were pronounced dead at the scene. The victims, all in their early 20s, were on a weekend trip to the Central Texas community of Kingsland to celebrate Salinas' 23rd birthday. Salinas' family told CBS News Texas the five were like sisters and had been friends since middle school. "Words can't describe how devastated we are," the family said in a statement. "We were en route to celebrate Thalia's birthday in Kingsland, Texas, at her favorite place — on the lake — with all her favorite people. Then we got news of the girls' passing away in the worst accident we could ever imagine. We will never recover from losing Thalia, Brianna, Ruby, Jacki,e and Desi." GoFundMe accounts have been established for each of the five families to help cover funeral and memorial expenses. The investigation into the crash is continuing, DPS said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
DPS: Williamson County man arrested related to crash that killed 5 people on US 281
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Williamson County man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a deadly multi-vehicle crash that killed five people in Burnet County on July 25, a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said. PREVIOUS: 5 dead after multi-vehicle crash in Burnet County DPS identified the truck driver involved in the crash as Kody Lane Talley. He was booked into the Burnet County jail and faces five counts of manslaughter, the release said. As of Wednesday, an attorney has not been listed for Talley. KXAN will update this information if that changes. Around 6 p.m., DPS responded to the crash near U.S. 281 near Park Road 4. A preliminary investigation showed that a pickup truck hauling a livestock trailer was traveling northbound on U.S. 281 when it veered into the southbound lanes and hit a car head-on. The truck continued in an arc before hitting an SUV, DPS said. The SUV overturned and caught fire, and according to DPS, all five occupants in the vehicle died at the scene. DPS identified them as Thalia Salinas, Ruby Cruz, Brianna Valadez, Desiree Cervantez and Jaqueline Velazco Ventura. Next of kin for the deceased have been notified, DPS said. According to DPS, the drivers and passengers of the other vehicles had non-life-threatening injuries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
03-08-2025
- CBS News
Five young North Texas women killed in fiery crash near Austin during birthday trip: "They were inseparable"
Five women from the Dallas area were killed in a horrific crash last week while traveling to celebrate a birthday. CBS News Texas has learned the victims were all in their early 20s. The group was on a weekend trip to the Central Texas community of Kingsland to celebrate Thalia Salinas' 23rd birthday. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the head-on collision happened in Burnet County on U.S. 281 near Park Road. Investigators say a truck pulling a livestock trailer veered into oncoming traffic, striking several vehicles. The car carrying the five women flipped and caught fire. The victims have been identified as Thalia Salinas, Ruby Cruz, Brianna Valadez, Desiree Cervantez, and Jacqueline Velazco. Thalia's family said the five were like sisters and had been friends since middle school. "They were inseparable," a family member said. "They grew up together and did everything together." In a statement, Thalia's family said: "Words can't describe how devastated we are. We were en route to celebrate Thalia's birthday in Kingsland, Texas, at her favorite place—on the lake—with all her favorite people. Then we got news of the girls passing away in the worst accident we could ever imagine. We will never recover from losing Thalia, Brianna, Ruby, Jackie and Desi." DPS says the crash remains under investigation. No further details about the truck driver or potential charges have been released. GoFundMe accounts have been established for each of the five families.
