CROCKETT COUNTY, Texas — A 31-year-old Laredo man was killed in a two-vehicle collision late Tuesday, according to a preliminary crash report from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The preliminary investigation from DPS showed that a 2000 International tractor-trailer, driven by Flavio Zapata, 31, of Laredo, was traveling northwest on State Highway 137, approaching a stop sign at the US 190/SH 137 intersection. Zapata started to make a left turn onto US 190, disregarding the stop sign.
A 2007 Peterbilt tractor-trailer, driven by Kyle Patrick Wartenbee, 37, of Gulfport, Miss., was traveling east on US 190, saw Zapata pull out and tried to avoid a collision.
The report said the trailer of Wartenbee's truck overturned, then jack-knifed, causing both vehicles to collide. Both tractor-trailers caught fire after the collision.
Zapata was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Evelyn Kerbow. Wartenbee was treated for minor injuries and released.