A 68-year-old woman from Cameron, Texas, died following a five-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 77 near County Road 203 Loop in Milam County on the morning of May 11, 2026. Amelia Reyes Mendoza was transported to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
Four other people were hurt in the crash, with injuries ranging from minor to incapacitating. The incident occurred within a TxDOT construction zone where traffic had been reduced to a single lane.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a pilot car and a flagger were guiding vehicles through a pavement project. Shortly before 9 a.m., a 2018 Dodge SUV driven by a 40-year-old man from Killeen approached the line of stopped traffic.
The driver failed to control his speed and rear-ended Mendoza’s 2023 Chevrolet SUV. The impact triggered a chain-reaction collision involving three additional vehicles. The construction zone was clearly marked, authorities said.
The driver of the Dodge SUV was not identified by name. No charges have been filed as of May 13. The crash remains under investigation. DPS has not released whether the driver will face citations or criminal charges. Investigators noted that the driver failed to recognize the stopped vehicles in time, leading to the deadly chain reaction.
Community members in Cameron have expressed grief over Mendoza’s death, describing her as a longtime resident whose loss has deeply affected her family and neighbors. No information about her survivors has been publicly released. The Texas Department of Public Safety continues to investigate the crash, focusing on driver behavior and roadway conditions.
Safety advocates have highlighted the dangers of speeding and distracted driving in construction zones. They stress that congestion and reduced lanes often increase the risk of multi-vehicle collisions. Officials have urged motorists to exercise caution in work zones, where stopped traffic can turn hazardous quickly. Mendoza was 68 years old. She lived in Cameron and died in a hospital in Temple. Those are the details her loved ones are sharing as they mourn. No funeral arrangements have been publicly announced.
