A devastating crash in Callahan County, Texas, claimed the lives of two individuals on the evening of Wednesday, February 11, 2026. The collision occurred at the intersection of State Highway 36 and Farm-to-Market Road 603, approximately 15 miles southeast of Abilene and just south of the Eula community. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported that the crash involved a passenger vehicle and an 18-wheeler hauling metal pipes.
Kaley Loren DeMasters, a 36-year-old resident of Abilene, was driving the passenger vehicle with an 11-year-old Eula ISD student as her passenger. According to preliminary findings, DeMasters failed to stop at a posted stop sign at the intersection and entered the path of the oncoming semi-truck. The impact was catastrophic, causing the truck’s cargo to spill across the roadway and leading to a prolonged closure of the highway for cleanup and investigation.
Emergency responders arrived swiftly at the scene around 7:30 p.m. DeMasters was pronounced dead at the scene due to the severity of her injuries. The young passenger was critically injured and transported to a nearby hospital, but tragically succumbed to their injuries en route. The driver of the 18-wheeler sustained only minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
The crash sent shockwaves through the Eula Independent School District and the surrounding community. Eula ISD confirmed the student’s death in a public statement the following morning, expressing deep sorrow and extending condolences to the family, classmates, and staff affected by the tragedy. The district also provided grief counseling services to students and faculty in the wake of the incident.
Local residents, including those living near the crash site, described hearing a loud bang that evening. One neighbor, Albert Pfaff, recounted praying for the victims’ safety as emergency vehicles arrived. The intersection of Highway 36 and FM 603 has been noted by locals as a potentially dangerous crossing, especially during nighttime or in low-visibility conditions.
As the investigation continues, authorities are reviewing all contributing factors, including visibility, signage, and road conditions. The tragic loss of Kaley DeMasters and the young student has reignited discussions about rural road safety and the importance of heightened caution at intersections involving high-speed traffic.
