1 dead, 3 injured in Pyote crash

PYOTE A Maywood, Calif., man was killed and three people were taken to Medical Center Hospital in Odessa after their pickup crashed into an overpass pillar Thursday afternoon on Interstate 20 near SH 118 in Pyote, Department of Public Safety communications operator Ronald Dawley said.

According to a report Dawley read from DPS trooper Marcus Fuentes, 70-year-old Francisco Ortiz drove a 2004 Ford F-150 east on I-20 when, for unknown reasons, he went into the median toward a pillar. He tried turning right but was blocked by a guard rail, then over-corrected and went into a right-side skid before smashing the pillar.

Police were called at 2:40 p.m. Francisco Ortiz was pronounced dead at the scene while Elvira Ortiz, Emanuel Ortiz and Patricia Ortiz were all taken to Medical Center Hospital.

Patricia, 63, was listed in critical condition following the crash, while Emanuel and Elvira were in fair condition, a nursing supervisor said.

All four passengers were wearing seat belts, Dawley said.