A Williamson County man has been arrested and charged with five counts of manslaughter in connection with a fatal crash that claimed five lives on July 25, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
On Aug. 5, DPS arrested Kody Lane Talley, the driver of the Ram pickup involved in the July 25 crash in Burnet County. Talley was booked into the Burnet County Jail on five counts of manslaughter.
DPS Troopers responded to the crash on July 25 at approximately 6 p.m. on U.S. 281 near Park Road 4 in Burnet County.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a 2018 Ram 4500 truck, pulling a livestock trailer, was traveling northbound on U.S. 281 when it crossed into the southbound lanes and struck a Chevrolet Malibu head-on. The impact caused the truck to continue in an arc, striking a Mercedes SUV. The Mercedes overturned and caught fire.
All five occupants of the Mercedes SUV were pronounced deceased at the scene. They have been identified as Thalia Salinas, Ruby Cruz, Brianna Valadez, Desiree Cervantez, and Jacqueline Velazco Ventura.
The drivers and passengers of the other vehicles involved sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
This crash remains an active and ongoing investigation.
