WISE COUNTY, Texas — Four people were killed, including two elementary school students, in a crash with an 18-wheeler truck in Wise County early Tuesday morning, officials said.
The crash happened around 5:30 a.m. on Farm Road 1810 at County Road 1340 east of Chico, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Sgt. Josue De La Cerda told WFAA that a Chevrolet Equinox collided head-on with the truck, then caught on fire. The four people inside the SUV died at the scene, De La Cerda said.
The four who died were later identified as 32-year-old Brandy Price and her daughters -- 3-year-old Avery Mullins, 8-year-old Gracie Mullins and 10-year-old Skyla Price. Funeral services for Brandy are set for 11 a.m. June 8 at DeBerry Funeral Directors at 2025 W. University Drive in Denton.
Brandy's sister Crystal Star Price described the young mother as a hard-working, caring mother and her best friend. She remembers her nieces fondly, as well: She said Avery could turn around a bad day with her smile; she called Gracie an "extremely vibrant" goofball; and she boasted that Skyla was "very intelligent," a straight-A student and the student with the highest GPA in her class.
"They loved their mama," Crystal said. "They were vibrant. They had a long life to live. They were my No. 1 everything."
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover the cost of the family's funerals.
Chico Independent School District officials confirmed that two of the victims who died were elementary school students in their district. After the crash, the district had counselors on campus to help teachers, students and staff grieve for their loss.
The driver of the semi-truck, identified by DPS as Mark Clark Jr., 41, was taken to a hospital for treatment after the crash. More information about how the crash happened was not released.
The Texas DPS is investigating the crash with the help of Wise County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Department of Transportation. The road where the crash happened was shut down for several hours as crews investigated the crash.