Leticia Valdez & Jessica Lynn Valdez

Texas Woman and Child Die in Fiery Crash on Interstate
They were part of a 4-or-5 vehicle convoy headed for Florida - the Juan Valdez family of Harlingen, Texas - when they were passing through Butts County Saturday night on 1-75.
However, their trip was cut short, abruptly and tragically, about 7 o'clock when a pick-up driven by Matthew Layne Kramer, 22, of Lawrenceville crossed the median of the interstate striking the vehicle of Leticia Valdez, 23, whose only passenger in the two-ton truck she was driving was her four-year-old daughter, Jessica Lynn.
According to Sheriff Billy Leverette, Mrs. Valdez's husband, Juan, was traveling in a vehicle in front of her and evidently saw the collision.
Leverette said Valdez stopped his vehicle and rushed back to his wife's truck which had overturned when it was struck by Kramer's 1978 Datsun pick-up.
Leverette said Mrs. Valdez's vehicle caught fire when it overturned and Valdez's attempts to rescue his wife and child were prevented by the flames.
Both Mrs. Valdez and the child died in the flames. Valdez suffered minor burns to his face and hands. He was treated and released at Sylvan Grove Hospital.
According to the sheriff, Kramer was treated for cuts and lacerations at Sylvan Grove but was released. Leverette said Kramer was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, driving under the influence of drugs, driving on the wrong side of the road, having no insurance, and reckless driving.
He was held at the Butts County jail but was released on $25,000 bond Sunday night, Leverette said.
The accident occurred about halfway between the Highways 16 and 36 interchanges on I-75.

(Jackson Progress Argus - 17 Nov 1982)

Submitted by V. S. Harrison