FOUR CHILDREN KILLED IN CRASH SOUTH OF GIDDINGS; TWO OTHERS IN CRITICAL CONDITION

  

Four children were killed after an accident Wednesday afternoon in Lee County.

According to Highway Patrol Sergeant Jeremy Weiser, the accident occurred around 3:45 p.m., roughly seven miles south of Giddings on Highway 77.  A 2006 Nissan Pathfinder headed northbound took evasive action to avoid colliding with a jackknifed 18-wheeler, but struck another 18-wheeler behind the jackknifed one.

In the Nissan were five children and the driver, all of Giddings.  Pronounced dead were 13-year-old Lillian Castro, 2-year-old Sabian Castro, 3-year-old Daniella Castro, and 7-year-old Trenton Wright.  The driver, 26-year-old Chelsea Olsen, and another passenger, 6-year-old Lillian Wright, were taken to an Austin hospital in critical condition.

No injury information was available on the driver of the jackknifed 18-wheeler, 53-year-old Allen Gholson of College Station, or the other 18-wheeler driven by 46-year-old Christopher Newton of Bryan.

It was determined to have been raining at the time of the accident.  The road was shut down for several hours as troopers worked the scene.  The accident is still under investigation.