3 men killed in horrific Dayton crash on their way to work

Nick Natario Image
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
3 men killed in horrific Dayton crash on their way to work
"Not only were they my best friends, they were also sons [and] brothers," said their supervisor.

DAYTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Three men heading to work were killed after a driver swerved into the wrong lane in Dayton, according to police.

As word spread through the small city in Liberty County of the horrific crash scene, one man had a bad feeling.

"I was calling the guys a few times, and nobody answered," Eidan Gano recalled.

After several attempts, he heard a voice he didn't want to hear.

"The police department answered and told me the news," Gano recalled.

Monday morning, four people were killed on Highway 146. Officers said a person driving a stolen truck, identified as 25-year-old Blaine Springer of Houston, crossed into the other lane, hitting another truck head-on.

The impact killed the men in the other vehicle, who were simply three men heading to work.

"We pour concrete," Gano explained. Gano is their supervisor, and he spoke with ABC13 by phone.

Ricardo Martinez, 41, and Alfredo Cuellar, 40, lived in south Texas. David Cortes, 27, was from New Mexico.

"Not only were they my best friends, they were also sons, brothers, they were also fathers, loving husbands," Gano explained.

Cueller's uncle, Matias Serrata, was emotional when he spoke with ABC13 about the wreck.

He said his nephew had dreams of taking part in barbecue cook-offs and buying a big home for his family.

"He would give you the shirt off his back," Serrata recalled. "I know that's a term you use so much, but literally, he would. He was just that kind of person."

Cueller leaves behind a wife, three children, and a grandchild. He was better known as Gorde.

"He had a smile on his face, even if he had a bad day," Serrata said. "You couldn't tell. [He was] very, very humble with everyone he crossed. He made an impact with everyone he met."

As for the wreck, Dayton police are still investigating. They aren't sure what caused Springer to cross into the other lane.

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