Two Ejected from Vehicle in Plum Crash

Two people including a child were ejected from a vehicle during a crash following a blown out tire on State Highway 71 Saturday night. The crash happened around 4:02 p.m. about a mile west of Plum.

According to a report from the Texas Department of Public Safety, 19-year-old Cristal Maria Alvarado of Houston was driving a blue 1999 Ford Explorer west on SH 71 in the inside lane. The vehicle’s right rear tire blew out, causing the Explorer to enter the center median. The Explorer rolled over, damaging the vehicle’s left side and top. The Explorer came to rest on its tires in the center median.

Two passengers were ejected: 20-year-old Katia Lopez and 3-year-old Yesli Elizabeth Roman Valverde. The report said Lopez was not wearing a seatbelt and Roman Valverde was seated in a child booster seat that was not properly secured. Alvarado and a fourth passenger, 27-year-old Elizabeth Valverde, were both wearing seat belts and neither was ejected. Multiple air bags in the vehicle deployed. All four occupants suffered serious injuries.

Fayette County EMS transported Alvarado and Elizabeth Valverde to Dell Seton Hospital in Austin and Yesli Elizabeth Roman Valverde to Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin. A helicopter from AirEvac Lifeteam transported Lopez to Dell Seton. Trooper Josh Berger investigated the accident. Fayette County EMS Director Josh Vandever said all are expected to recover.