Three people killed in two-vehicle crash south of Sweetwater in Nolan County

SWEETWATER – Three people were killed and one critically injured in a two-vehicle crash Sunday in southern Nolan County, the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a news release. 

The collision happened about 6:50 p.m. when Bryan Isaac Pesina, 20, of Dale, was driving a 2020 Toyota Corolla southbound on State Highway 153 about 19.5 miles south of Sweetwater and attempted to pass a semi-trailer in a no-passing zone, the release said. 

The Corolla crashed head-on with a northbound 2012 Dodge Charger driven by Joan Palacios, 43, of Crosbyton. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene, as was Juan Palacios, 68, also of Crosbyton, a passenger in the Charger, the release said.

The bodies were taken to Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home in Sweetwater, DPS said. 

Katerina Pesina, 22, a second passenger in the Charger also from Crosbyton and unrelated to the Corolla driver, was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth with critical injuries, the release said. 

The DPS continues to investigate the crash.

Editor's Note: The age of Juan Palacios was changed to 68 after an update from the Texas Department of Public Safety. 

Laura Gutschke is a general assignment reporter and food columnist and manages online content for the Reporter-News.  If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.