AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Williamson County man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a deadly multi-vehicle crash that killed five people in Burnet County on July 25, a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said.
DPS identified the truck driver involved in the crash as Kody Lane Talley. He was booked into the Burnet County jail and faces five counts of manslaughter, the release said.
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Memorial for 5 people after July 2025 deadly crash on U.S. 281 in Burnet County. (KXAN Photo/Sam Stark) -
Memorial for 5 people after July 2025 deadly crash on U.S. 281 in Burnet County. (KXAN Photo/Sam Stark) -
Memorial for 5 people after July 2025 deadly crash on U.S. 281 in Burnet County. (KXAN Photo/Sam Stark) -
Memorial for 5 people after July 2025 deadly crash on U.S. 281 in Burnet County. (KXAN Photo/Sam Stark)
As of Wednesday, an attorney has not been listed for Talley. KXAN will update this information if that changes.
Around 6 p.m., DPS responded to the crash near U.S. 281 near Park Road 4.
A preliminary investigation showed that a pickup truck hauling a livestock trailer was traveling northbound on U.S. 281 when it veered into the southbound lanes and hit a car head-on. The truck continued in an arc before hitting an SUV, DPS said.
The SUV overturned and caught fire, and according to DPS, all five occupants in the vehicle died at the scene. DPS identified them as Thalia Salinas, Ruby Cruz, Brianna Valadez, Desiree Cervantez and Jaqueline Velazco Ventura. Next of kin for the deceased have been notified, DPS said.
According to DPS, the drivers and passengers of the other vehicles had non-life-threatening injuries.