A two-vehicle collision Wednesday morning in Hockley County resulted in the death of Elaine Maribel Martinez, 19, of Sudan.
According to a preliminary report issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the collision occurred at roughly 9 a.m. on U.S. Highway 385, approximately four miles north of Whitharral.
The preliminary investigation showed that Datyrik Terell Sheppard, 38, of Lubbock was operating a 2014 Freightliner M2 and traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 385. The second vehicle, a 2016 Nissan Versa was operated by Martinez and was traveling southbound.
The report states Sheppard’s vehicle drifted left and crossed into the southbound lane of travel. Both vehicle collided in the southbound lane. Martinez was pronounced deceased as a result of the injuries she sustained in the collision. Sheppard was treated for minor injuries at the scene.
Levelland-Hockley County Emergency Management issued a mass notification that U.S. Highway was temporally closed as the Hockley County Sheriff’s Office, Levelland Fire Department, Levelland EMS and DPS were responding to the collision.
By 1:40 p.m., U.S. Highway 385 was reopened for normal operation.