Seguin, TX : Fatal crash under investigation on Monday, January 30th 2017
A group of neighbors are rallying around a Guadalupe County family who are dealing with a tragedy following a deadly collision on Monday.
Kimberley Riggs, who lives down the road from John Carlson, Sherry Matthews and her two sons, couldn’t believe the news that three of the family members were involved in a serious wreck.
“I tried calling Sherry, and couldn’t get through. I texted, and couldn’t get through,” she said. “I heard that Sherry might have been at SAMMC, so I called and asked for her and after a little bit, I as finally able to get her room. She was happy to hear from me because she didn’t have her phone, and had no way of calling anyone.”
The deadly crash was reported about 10:45 a.m. when the driver of a pick-up truck, later identified as Thomas Uselton, was reportedly weaving in and out of traffic and speeding, while traveling south on FM 725 near Rolling Forks Drive, Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Larry Haecker said.
“Witnesses said the truck was passing cars at a high rate of speed as it was going south on FM 725, and there were also witnesses on East Zipp that reported seeing the vehicle driving recklessly,” he said.
As the truck got close to the gas station where the wreck happened, additional witness reported seeing him drive off the shoulder, veer back onto the road and into oncoming traffic, Haecker said.
“That is when he hit head on with the other car,” Haecker said.
DPS Sgt. Robert Haiyasoso confirmed Carlson was pronounced dead at the scene, while Matthew’s son, Joseph Tacia, was flown to University Hospital in San Antonio, Matthews and Uselton were taken by ambulance to area hospitals.
Joseph has since been released Riggs said.
“Sherry’s mom has already made it into town and is with her and the boys.”
Knowing that funerals are costly, and that medical bills are piling up, neighbors decided to created a GoFundMe page for the family to help with any expenses, Riggs said.
“We started this to help them with the unexpected expenses like groceries, funeral expenses or hospital bills,” Riggs said. “Nobody expects for something like this to happen. Losing the main bread winner is definitely something nobody is prepared for.”
Riggs said many of the residents who live near the family are friends, including the children.
“Sherry would help me and I would help her,” she said. “Both of our sons — Sherry’s youngest — go to AJ Briesemeister, and Joseph goes to Seguin High School. They were in football together and other sports. Her youngest son helps at the pig farm at the end of the road, and my daughter also works there. We’re kind of a tight-knit community.”
Riggs said Sherry and her two boys moved to Texas after reconnecting with Carlson
“John and Sherry’s life started in Oregon in 1989, and they were together for 7 years,” she wrote on the GoFundMe page. “They split and continued their lives separate for 12 years. After Sherry found herself alone with 2 young boys, she couldn’t stop thinking about John. In 2007, she spent $40 for a one year membership on a people search website. It produced a phone number that she called and called until finally someone answered. That someone was, in fact, John. In 2008 they were reunited.”
While Riggs admitted she didn’t know Carlson well, she did know that he was a quiet and reserved person, who loved his family.
“John was a private and humble man with a big heart for dogs, children, charity and Sherry,” Riggs said. “He loved Sherry and her sons and worked hard to make his promises to them come true. He donated to children and cancer charities that were dear to his big heart. His light has gone home too soon, he wanted to take his family back to Oregon to stay, then this happened. “
Source :
Fatal crash under investigation