Three killed on area highways, numerous others are injured

By LYNDEL MOODY Staff Writer

Icy roads played a major part in several vehicle accidents throughout the
Crossroads area over the past 24 hours, including one in which two Stanton men
were killed on Friday and another Saturday morning took the life of an Arizona
woman.

According to Martin County Sheriff Randy Cozart, Stanton Junior High School
coaches Thomas Castro and Mike Mansfield were killed Friday night in a two-
vehicle accident a mile west of Stanton on Interstate 20.

"Ice played a major role in the accident," Cozart said. "They hit a slick spot
heading west and went into the eastbound lane where they collided with an 18-
wheeler."

The two men were killed instantly, Cozart said, and Martin County Justice of the
Peace Merv Miller pronounced them dead at the scene. The driver of the semi was
not injured.

"This is just a tragic accident hitting this close to home and they are going to
be missed greatly," Cozart said. "They were a big part of our community. The
kids and grownups will miss them a lot."

According to Stanton High School Principal Mark Cotton, the two men were driving
to Midland on an errand when the accident took place.

"We don't know how to handle this loss," Cotton said Saturday morning. "We lost
two outstanding coaches, teachers and Christian men. It's going to be tough.

"In this profession, it's family and that's what this was, a loss of family,"
Cotton added.

Cotton said extra counselors and clergy will be on campus Monday to meet with
students and faculty.

Twenty-nine-year-old Castro, a Stanton High School graduate, was in charge of
the junior high basketball program and leaves behind a wife and one child.
Second-year teacher Mansfield, 25, is a former resident of Coahoma.

Saturday morning, a one-vehicle accident along Highway 87 near the Brown
community took the life of 28-year-old Luz Maria Soto of Arizona. According to
Trooper Marc Couch, the vehicle, a Ford Excursion, was traveling south when it
hit black ice and slid sideways off the road. Soto, who was not wearing a seat
belt, was ejected from the vehicle.

She died en route to Scenic Mountain Medical Center. Three other persons, 35-
year-old Armando Diaz,10-year-old Cesar Diaz, and the driver, 28-year-old Ramona
Sanchez Rodriquez, were air lifted to Lubbock. Ten-year-old Janette Rodriquez
was being held for overnight observation at Scenic Mountain while 26-year-old
Pedro Ramirez Soto, 14-year-old Ricky Rodriquez, 7-year-old Alexis Diaz and 16-
month-old Luz Arendida Diaz were not admitted to the hospital.

The Howard County Sheriff's Office reported six accidents along I-20 Friday
night in a 40-minute time frame beginning at 11:11 p.m. Accidents were reported
at Mile Marker 171, 172, 178, 179, 184 and 188.

Contact Staff Writer Lyndel Moody at 263-7331, ext. 234, or by e-mail at
reporter@bigspringherald.com