The Texas Department of Public Safety released the following information about the Runnels County two-vehicle accident that claimed the lives of two teens and injured a third teen from Brown County.
The accident occurred at 6:29 AM on US 67, 9.7 miles NE of Ballinger, in Runnels County. The speed limit at the location is a 75 mph zone. The weather conditions were clear/cloudy and the road conditions were dry.
According to DPS, the 2002 Ford Ranger driven by 19-year-old Bolton Layne Day was traveling northeast on US-67 while a 2009 Ford F-250, towing a flatbed trailer, was traveling southwest. Day’s vehicle crossed the center stripe and entered the lane occupied by the oncoming Ford F-250. The driver of the Ford F-250 took evasive action by steering right. The vehicles side swiped (left side) then Day’s vehicle struck the trailer being towed by the F-250 on the front left corner.
Day’s Ford Ranger rolled over to its left and came to rest upright in the middle of US-67 facing south. The Ford F-250 and trailer came to rest on the North shoulder of US-67 facing southwest.
Occupants of the Ford Ranger included driver 2013 Zephyr High School graduate Bolton Day of Brownwood, passenger 18-year-old Brownwood High School senior Billy Edward Jones, and passenger Brownwood High School freshman 16-year-old Kelly Blake Delacruz of Brownwood.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene by Judge Glenda Wood at 7:55 AM. Jones was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident according to DPS. His body was taken to Lange Funeral Home in Ballinger.
Day was transported from the scene to Shannon Medical Center, San Angelo where he later died. He was pronounced dead at 3:28 PM by Dr. Flynn. DPS reported that Day was not wearing a seatbelt.
Delacruz was transported to Ballinger Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released for non-incapacitating injury. DPS reports that Delacruz was also not wearing a seatbelt.
The male driver of the 2009 Ford F-250, identified 49-year-old Jessie Roland Robles of Joshua TX was towing a flatbed trailer and had no reported injuries. He was reported to have been wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident.
