21 Oct Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Fatal 2024 Harlingen Crash

A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for a 2024 crash on FM 509 in Harlingen that took the life of Oralia Garza, 77, of San Benito, according to jail records.

Jose De La Cruz was sentenced Oct. 19. He pleaded guilty Sept. 15 to intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury, according to court records.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said the crash happened around 1:27 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, on FM 509 south of FM 800. De La Cruz was driving a 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe south at a high speed when he attempted to overtake a semi-truck in a no-passing zone, DPS said. He swerved back into the southbound lane to avoid an oncoming 2021 Hyundai Kona but didn’t get his speed under control and hit the back of the semi. The impact sent the Tahoe across into the northbound lane, where it hit the Kona, according to DPS.

Garza was driving the Kona, with a man riding as a passenger. Both of them and De La Cruz were taken to Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen. Garza died the next day.