Dallam County head-on crash kills 2 from Perryton

A head-on collision on U.S. 54 in Dallam County, about 7 miles south of Stratford, claimed the lives of two Perryton residents late Saturday.

At around 10:15 p.m., a 2016 Freightliner truck tractor towing a semi-trailer driven by Martin Estrada-Cortez, 60, of Mexico was towing a semi-trailer and traveling southwest on U.S. 54 while a 2008 Nissan Titan pickup truck driven by Blas Maldonado-Arreola, 59, of Perryton, was traveling northeast on U.S. 54, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

For an unknown reason, Maldonado-Arreola's truck crossed over the center stripe into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on with the semi tractor-trailer, the release states.

The Freightliner traveled off the right side of the roadway and into the ditch, where it struck a utility pole.

Estrada-Cortez was transported to Moore County Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.

Maldonado-Arreola and a passenger, Patricia Ruiz-Carbajal, 58, also of Perryton, were both pronounced dead at the scene by Dallam County Justice of the Peace Carol Smith.

All three were reportedly wearing seat belts. Road conditions at the time of the crash on the paved road were raining/wet.

The accident remains under investigation by Texas Highway Patrol Troopers.

The crash remains under investigation by Texas Highway Patrol Troopers.