Four Injured in Wreck; One Faces DWI Charge

A West Point man faces DWI charges after getting into an accident early Saturday morning in La Grange.

According to a report from La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath, the accident happened at the intersection of SH 71 Bypass and SH 159 around 12:09 a.m. on Jan. 23.

The report said 40-year-old Tomas Garza Jr. of West Point was driving a 2015 Kia Sedona north on 159. As he approached the intersection, a 2021 Freighliner box truck on the westbound 71 feeder road made a left turn on 159. The Freightliner then attempted another left turn to get onto the eastbound feeder road. The Kia struck the rear of the box truck so hard that it knocked the rear axle out from under the truck.

The driver of the box truck was Felix Carlos Campos, 40 of Fort Lauderdale, Fl. Gilbreath said Campos was in the area for the Winter Antiques Show in Round Top. Two passengers were also in the Freightliner, Juan Luis Muniz-Nieves, 20, and Michael Pellot, 32, both from Fort Pierce, Fl.

Garza was pinned inside the Kia. La Grange Volunteer Fire Department responded and freed him from the wreckage.

Gilbreath said Campos failed to yield the right of way to the Kia and was at fault for the wreck. However, Police determined that Garza was driving under the influence of alcohol. Garza suffered serious injuries. Fayette County EMS transported him to St. David’s Hospital in Austin in critical condition. Gilbreath said his condition was stable on Monday. Gilbreath said Garza faces a DWI charge pending the results of a blood test.

Campos and the two passengers in the Freightliner were transported to St. Mark’s Hospital with less serious injuries.