Four Dead After Multi-Vehicle Pileup Near County Line

Four people including a child perished in a multi-vehicle pileup on Interstate 10 Wednesday, July 6, west of Flatonia. The crash happened around 11:21 a.m. about five miles east of Waelder near the Fayette-Gonzalez County Line.

Sgt. Kenny Mata with the Texas Highway Patrol provided the following details about the preliminary investigation. Mata said a 2021 Volvo truck-tractor towing a 2017 Utility semi-trailer loaded with fruit was traveling east on Interstate 10. The traffic on IH-10 had come to a stop due to road construction. For reasons unknown at this time, Mata said, the driver of the 2021 Volvo Truck Tractor crashed into the rear of a 2020 BMW 440 compact car.

The 2021 Volvo truck tractor continued east, crashing into the rear of a 2018 Wabash semi-trailer that was being towed by a 2020 Freightliner Truck Tractor. The trailer was loaded with batteries.

The driver of the Volvo truck tractor was identified as Wade Francis Slagle, 57 of Remer, Minnesota. Slagle died at the scene. The passenger of the 2021 Volvo Truck Tractor was identified as Christy L. Hoffer, 46 of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and she also died at the scene.

The driver and passenger in the BMW both died at the scene as well. The driver was identified as Mona Mack Nesbitt, 62 of Lubbock. The passenger was an 11-year-old girl from Amarillo.

The driver of the 2020 Freightliner Truck Tractor suffered injuries and was transported to Gonzales Memorial Hospital in Gonzales. Lone Star Hazmat arrived on scene and assisted with the clean up of the batteries.

Assisting agencies were the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office, Flatonia Fire Department, Waelder Fire Department, Gonzales County EMS, Gonzales County Rescue and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.

Mata said the investigation is ongoing and no more details were available as of last week. The next of kin has been notified for each of the deceased, he said.