Two Dead in Major Crash in North Midland

Midland Police Department responded to a major accident in north Midland around 4:15 p.m. on Monday, April 8, 2024. The incident, located in the 7100 block of North State Highway 349 at the intersection of Craddick Highway and State Highway 349, resulted in two fatalities and one person being transported to the hospital.

According to authorities, a dump truck failed to yield the right of way to a Ford F-350 traveling southbound on State Highway 349. As a result, two individuals in the Ford F-350, including 32-year-old Richard Vela from Odessa, were pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the second deceased person has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin. Additionally, one person from the Ford F-350 was taken to Midland Memorial Hospital for treatment.

The driver of the dump truck, a 33-year-old resident of Midland, was released without injury at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.