Father and son killed in crash on US-281 north of Edinburg

WESLACO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Texas DPS is investigating a four-vehicle fatal vehicle crash on US 281 south of FM 1017 north of Edinburg, according to a DPS news release. DPS said the accident occurred around 2:38 a.m. on Monday. The initial investigation showed that a Chevrolet Malibu, occupied by a male driver, was traveling northbound on US 281 on a southbound lane. The driver of the Chevrolet Malibu was suspected to be driving intoxicated. DPS reported that beer cans were found inside the Malibu. Blood work results on the driver are pending, according to DPS. A white Chevrolet Colorado occupied by a female driver and a child was traveling southbound on US 281. The driver of the Colorado veered off the roadway to avoid collision with the Malibu, lost control, rolled over, and stopped on the southbound frontage road. A black Hyundai Tucson, occupied by a father and son, was traveling southbound on US 281. The Tucson collided with the Malibu, causing the Tucson to spin across the southbound lanes. The child in the Hyundai Tucson was not safely secured, the report stated. A white Freightliner tractor-trailer traveling southbound on US 281 collided with the Tucson. The driver of the Freightliner did not sustain injuries and was not transported to the hospital. The driver and passenger of the Chevrolet Colorado were transported to Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance with injuries and are in stable condition. The driver of the Chevrolet Malibu was also transported to Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance in critical condition. The occupants of the Hyundai Tucson, 4-year-old John Andrew Escamilla, a resident of Pharr, was transported to Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance, where he died from his injuries. The child's father, 32-year-old Mark Anthony Alvarez, the driver of the Hyundai, also from Pharr, died at the scene. Troopers are further investigating this fatal crash.