Truck driver gets $500K bond in texting and driving crash that killed San Benito man

SAN BENITO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The man accused of texting and driving while operating a semi-trailer has been arraigned after the driver he collided with died.

Luis Fernando Gonzalez Altamirano, 39, was arrested on a charge of criminal negligent homicide in the death of 70-year-old San Benito resident Lorenzo Guajardo.

_{Luis Fernando Gonzalez Altamirano (Mugshot courtesy of Cameron County Records)}

Gonzalez Altamirano was issued a bond amount of $500,000, according to the Cameron County Sheriff's Office.

At noon on Saturday, the Texas Department of Public Safety responded to a crash between two vehicles, a red Kenworth semi-trailer and a blue Chevrolet Aveo, on FM 1421 and Road 233.

(Source: Texas Department of Public Safety)

(Source: Texas Department of Public Safety)

DPS reported that that the driver of the Aveo, identified as Guajardo, slowed down, attempting to make a left turn onto Road 233 when the driver of the Kenworth, Gonzalez Altamirano, failed to control its speed and collided with the Aveo.

During the initial investigation, Gonzalez Altamirano revealed that he was texting and driving at the time of the crash.

Guajardo was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.