Published Sunday, June 28, 2009 12:09 AM
3 teens die in crash on Texas 36
By MICHELLE CASADY
michelle.casady@theeagle.com
Three teenagers were killed early Saturday in a single-vehicle accident in Washington County.
A 15-year-old survived the accident, which happened around 12:50 a.m. on Texas 36 at Big Sandy Creek, Department of Public Safety officials said.
Riley Cole Key lost control of the pickup he was driving, overcorrected and crashed into a guardrail, according to the DPS report. The truck rolled several times before landing upside down in the creek, officials said.
Key, 18, of Ledbetter; Thomas Calvin Wolz, 18, of Caldwell; and Ethan Cole Sebesta, 19, of Caldwell, were pronounced dead at the scene at 3:30 a.m.
Officials said Key and Sebesta were the only ones wearing seat belts.
Christopher Jackson, 15, told officials that he jumped out of the truck before the crash. He suffered minor injuries and was released from Trinity Medical Center in Brenham on Saturday.
Caldwell High School Athletic Director Dale Williams said the loss of the three young men was a tragedy for the small town.
"These kids were just starting their lives. They just graduated high school," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them. It's a sad day."
Sebesta graduated from Caldwell High School in 2008 and was a pitcher and outfielder for the baseball team.
"He just loved playing the game. He was a good and hard-working kid," Williams said.
Wolz graduated from Caldwell High in 2009 and played tennis for the Hornets for three years. His coach, Gary Sumners, said he was a standout on the team.
"He was talented athletically," he said. "His sophomore year, he was third place in district for singles, and he got second place in singles at district his junior year. He went to all kinds of amateur tournaments, always trying to get better. He'd always battle back. He'd come back from a bad situation and finish strong."
Sumners said Wolz was quiet and chose his words carefully but had a lot of friends.
Classmate Shawn Lauren, who started a Facebook group in Wolz's memory on Saturday, said she remembered him as someone who didn't need to say much to make his peers laugh.
"He helped out with the special-needs students, and I really admired that about him," she said. "He was a bright kid and will be missed very much. He was a son, a brother, a student -- but most importantly, he was a friend. The Caldwell High School graduating Class of 2009 has lost one of our own, but he'll never be forgotten."
Key was involved in the Texas High School Rodeo Association and had won several awards and cash prizes.
Arrangements for Wolz and Sebesta are being handled by Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell. Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings will handle the arrangements for Key.
Services have not been set.
LOCAL POLICE BLOTTER
The below map shows police calls reported by the College Station Police Department each day from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. (indicated by blue markers), police calls reported by the Bryan Police Department daily from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (indicated by yellow markers), as well as incidents reported by The Eagle in Bryan, College Station and surrounding areas (indicated by red markers). Click on individual incidents or markers for details.
Editor's Note: The Eagle has produced this map based on information provided by the College Station and Bryan Police Departments. The map does not include all calls for service and the information is preliminary. Data provided by the police department may not accurately reflect the nature of the calls, and the status of reported incidents may change after further investigation. Locations are approximate.
Comments
[comment]
14 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 3:02 PM
Comment Title:
Its not ONLY teenagers that get into wrecks, have some respect to family and friends of these 3 boys!
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 11:35 AM
Comment Title:
re: "Young people believe they are invincible; that nothing bad can happen to them. No amount of lecture can alter this fact" HOW absolutely IGNORANT! Teaching young folks about the dangers of alcohol is a PROVEN fact. Brushing this behavior under the rug solves nothing.
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 2:25 AM
Comment Title:
It is revolting to read some of the comments that have been posted. It matters not if alcohol was or was not a factor in this tragic event. What matters is that 3 young men lost their lives and they have multitudes of grief stricken loved ones, any number of which, like myself, can read these comments. I ask you this... If the shoe were on the other foot, and you were mourning the tragic and untimely loss of a loved one, how would you feel reading such cruel and insensitive remarks. I recognize we all have freedom of speech, I just ask that you all excercise your right respectfully. Furthermore... Young people are quite "aware" of alcohol and do not need a class to tell them about it. If you truly believe a class will prevent teen drinking, you musn't be in touch with today's youth. Young people believe they are invincible; that nothing bad can happen to them. No amount of lecture can alter this fact. I am close with the Wolz family. Whitney has been my friend for years and is my college roommate. The memories we all have in our hearts will last forever. Please pray for the loved ones of these young men. Ask for God to give them strength and peace.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 1:35 PM
Comment Title:
?
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 1:33 PM
Comment Title:
Wow TXdot can do more.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 1:32 PM
Comment Title:
Sad
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 6:11 AM
Comment Title: What a crying shame....
It's a sad day when the lives of 3 young people were lost in an accident and all some can do is speculate about alcohol. Why not show some respect for the family and friends of these 3? My prayers and thoughts go out to the families and friends.May God comfort everyone in this time of need.
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Posted by:
a friend and classmate of Thomas Wolz On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 9:54 PM
Comment Title: To JC
Your comment is uncalled for. We are all feeling the hardship from this tragedy. Whether alcohol was involved or not, a friend and member of our community has been lost and should remembered by all. Yes our town has been through alot lately but that by no means constitute such a harsh and openly rude comment about our schools and community. Show some class!
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Posted by:
a mom On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 5:50 PM
Comment Title: all 3 were minors
If alcohol was involved, then who sold it to or provided it to these minors?
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 5:28 PM
Comment Title:
JC speaks the truth.
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Posted by:
LP On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 2:37 PM
Comment Title: poor judgement! JC
Unless you were the investigator, or have access to some information that is not published in the article by Michelle Casady, ALCOHOL is not mentioned. The grief is completely overwhelming to the communities, families, schools and friends everywhere; please leave the judgement of these boys elsewhere, unless or until there is sufficient, accurate information, to give some validity to your conclusion......the pain felt by the loss of these three young people is unbearable without you adding any other harsh conclusions the mix.
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Posted by:
Vicky On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 10:05 AM
Comment Title: Tragedy for 3 families
I know all three families that have suffered such a great loss and my prayers go out to you all that you will find the strenght to endure the loss of these three young men.
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Posted by:
JC On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 9:22 AM
Comment Title: A BIG Problem
Im so very sorry to hear of this terrible event. This isnt anything unusual for Burleson County. This is one of many young deaths here just this year. Looks like the schools would teach alcohol awareness!!!!
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Posted by:
bw On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 7:03 AM
Comment Title: pray for the families
What a tragedy. These 3 young men were all very talented, bright individuals. They come from good families, who are right now in a turmoil most of us could never imagine. Please pray for these families to find the strength they will need to get through the coming day,weeks, months and years as they deal with this unimaginable loss. May they soon find peace.
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