Two firefighters from the Zapata County Fire Department and Ambulance Service died in a head-on collision with an SUV Wednesday in Hebbronville.
Captain Andres Botello and Firefighter/EMT Jose Cepeda were traveling in a Victorious Care Ambulance vehicle when a 2016 GMC Sierra crossed the center line and struck the ambulance on State Highway 16 at 5 a.m. Wednesday.
The ambulance was traveling in the eastbound lane when the SUV, which was travelling in the westbound lane, crossed the center line and the collision occurred, WGNS reports.
Botello, 66, was driving the Victorious Care vehicle. Cepeda, 23, was a passenger. The driver of the SUV, Jaime Barrera Jr., 27, also died in the wreck.
Zapata County Fire Department said via Facebook that Captain Botello had served in the department for 34 years. Cepeda joined the department several months ago.
