Henry Anthony Vela,William Randolph Smith Obituary, Death; – Two individuals have lost their lives in Midland, and one woman is reported to be in serious condition following a tragic accident involving a vehicle that was traveling on the incorrect side of the road along Interstate 20.
As reported by the Texas Department of Public Safety, the deadly incident took place at approximately 1:20 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, near mile marker 129 on I-20. According to DPS, Henry Anthony Vela, 34, from Midland, was declared dead at the scene. The other driver, William Randolph Smith, 78, from Pflugerville, was also pronounced dead at the site of the accident.
Preliminary details from the DPS report indicate that a 2004 Ford F-150 was moving east in the inside lane designated for westbound traffic on I-20, effectively driving against the flow of traffic. The second vehicle, a 2025 Toyota Sienna, was traveling west in the same inside lane when the Ford collided with the Toyota.
Following the collision, DPS reported that the Ford was engulfed in flames. Both vehicles came to a stop in the westbound lanes of I-20. A passenger in the Toyota, identified as Diana Marquez, 52, was taken to Midland Memorial Hospital and is currently listed in serious condition.
The investigation into this crash is ongoing.
