Arturo Castaneda Obituary, Death – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is conducting an investigation into a tragic single-vehicle crash that occurred on Saturday, December 7, at approximately 2:54 p.m. The accident took place on Interstate 37 Southbound near mile marker 20A.
According to Staff Sergeant Rob Mallory of the Texas Highway Patrol, the crash involved a 2005 Jeep Liberty driven by Arturo Castaneda, 73, of Skidmore, Texas. Traveling with him were his wife, Pabla Soto Castaneda, 70, and their two great-grandchildren, aged 6 and 3. The family was heading south in the outside lane of the interstate when the accident happened.
The crash was triggered when Castaneda attempted to change lanes but failed to notice another vehicle in the adjacent lane. In trying to avoid a collision, he overcorrected the steering of the Jeep Liberty, losing control of the vehicle. The SUV veered off the roadway, crossing the access road, and rolled over multiple times. Tragically, Castaneda was ejected from the vehicle during the rollover.
The Jeep eventually came to a stop upright, entangled in a wire fence, and facing northwest. Emergency responders arrived shortly after the crash but were unable to save Arturo Castaneda, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Pabla Castaneda suffered severe injuries and was airlifted to Spohn Shoreline Hospital in Corpus Christi by Halo Flight. She remains in critical condition as of the latest reports. Meanwhile, the two young children in the backseat sustained only minor injuries. They were transported to Driscoll Children’s Hospital for evaluation and treatment and have since been released.
The DPS troopers from the Corpus Christi Highway Patrol Office are continuing their investigation into the incident. Authorities have not released additional details but are working to determine the full circumstances leading to the crash.
This accident has left the Skidmore community grieving the loss of Arturo Castaneda while hoping for the recovery of Pabla Castaneda. The safety of the two children has brought a measure of relief amid the tragedy, but the incident underscores the dangers of overcorrection and lane-changing on high-speed roads. As the investigation proceeds, DPS officials urge drivers to exercise caution and remain vigilant while navigating highways.