Van Horn woman dies east of Valentine

By ALBERTO TOMAS HALPERN

JEFF DAVIS COUNTY – A single vehicle accident on U.S. 90 five miles east of Valentine has left one person dead, Carole Fitzgerald, 75, of Van Horn, according to the highway patrol.

The woman was westbound on the highway on Sunday, October 7 when she fell apparently fell asleep at the wheel.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Sixto Rey, who investigated the wreck, Fitzgerald’s vehicle “went into a culvert, went airborne, and rolled.”

She was taken to Culberson Hospital in Van Horn by Marfa EMS, a shorter drive than to Big Bend Regional Medical Center in Alpine. Fitzgerald was then flown to University Medical Center of El Paso where she passed away on Monday, October 8 due to complications from the wreck.

The Texas Department of Public Safety, Marfa EMS, the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Department and the Valentine Volunteer Fire Department all responded to the accident.