Second person dies from Sunday wreck in Pharr

PHARR — A Mission teenager who was struck by a vehicle while changing a tire on Expressway 83 has died.

Gerardo Curiel Castillo, 18, had been on life support since Sunday after he and 35-year-old Ernesto Bedolla Cruz were hit by an SUV traveling on the highway.

Bedolla was pronounced dead at the scene; Curiel was taken to McAllen Medical Center, where he died Tuesday.

According to police, 23-year-old Benito Vasquez lost control of his SUV and drifted toward the highway divider, where Curiel and Bedolla were changing a flat tire. The impact sent both men over the median onto the eastbound lanes. Vehicles traveling on the opposite side of the highway were able to avoid hitting them.

Vasquez told authorities he swerved to avoid strike another vehicle that was out of control.

The crash shut down traffic on both sides of the highway for a few hours Sunday.