CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Corpus Christi couple was killed in a wrong-way crash that shut down a section of northbound I-37 in Live Oak County Monday night, according to DPS Sgt. Rob Mallory.
Around 7:38 p.m., 32-year-old Junior Velasquez of San Antonio was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of I-37 near Mile Maker 53 in a 2016 Dodge Ram 2500 when he struck a Volkswagen Atlas head on, Mallory said.
The driver, 45-year-old Joseph Thompson, and his wife riding in the passenger seat, 44-year-old Jessica Thompson, traveled off the roadway and came to rest against the center median cable barrier.
Mallory said a few drivers nearby stopped and attempted to pull the couple out of the SUV.
The Atlas caught fire and the couple, trapped inside, succumbed to their injuries.
Troopers determined that Velasquez was intoxicated. After medical clearance he was taken into custody and charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter.
The crash remains under investigation by George West Highway Patrol Office.
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