3 killed, 2 critically injured in two separate crashes on Soncy Road in Amarillo

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — EDITOR'S NOTE: The story originally said Dawson Pemberton was 23. That was based on a mistake by APD. The department has since corrected that.

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) - Three people were killed and two critically injured, in two separate crashes on Soncy Road.

The first crash happened just before 9 p.m. Friday at Soncy and SW 45th Ave.

According to Amarillo police, Dawson Pemberton, 19, the driver of a 2001 Chevy Tahoe, was going "extremely fast" on Soncy and got into the left hand turn lane to go around traffic stopped at the light.

Pemberton broadsided a 2008 Cadillac CTS which was westbound on SW 45th, causing it to spin and hit two other vehicles.

Two people were killed and two were critically injured when, according to Amarillo police, a driver ran a red light at Soncy Road and SW 45th Ave. on June 7, 2024 (Jamie Burch/KVII)

The driver of the Cadillac, Edwin Macias, 18, had to be extricated from the car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

His back seat passenger, Aaron Cervantez, 20, was ejected and died.

Autopsies were ordered on both of them.

Firefighters were able to pull the front seat passenger, 18-year-old Alex Rivera, through the window. He was taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries.

All three victims in the CTS are from Dimmitt.

RELATED: Dimmitt holding prayer vigil Sunday evening (June 9) at courthouse gazebo

Multiple Dimmitt teachers shared ABC 7 News' Facebook post about the crash.

"When I got into the teaching/coaching profession, my one goal was to love these kids and show them that I actually cared for them.," said Jose Duran, a math/physics teacher and baseball coach at Dimmitt High School. "These kids don't know how much of a positive impact they had on me in my first year in Dimmitt. Being the new teacher in town, they quickly added me to their group and I became one of the 'guys'.'"

"Please keep our community, the families, and these kids in your prayers. Please keep our one kid who's fighting to survive in your prayers."

Two of the victims just graduated.

"I just taught these young men!! It’s not fair, all year we had discussions about their next chapter in life and it has been taken away from them!!” said Dimmitt teacher Nicholas Gauna.

"Every time a teacher loses a student, it leaves a hole in their heart. These guys had such bright futures," said Dimmitt teacher Elizabeth Rackler. "The excitement that filled their souls graduation night was like no other. Pray for these families, pray for these students, and pray for our school."

"Definitely not the call you want to get in the middle of the night as a coach/teacher!" said Jose Gonzalez, one of the assistant football coaches. "Please continue to pray for our Dimmitt community, for their families and our Dimmitt ISD staff!"

Pemberton, the driver of the Tahoe, was taken to the hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.

A total of nine cars were damaged in that crash, including seven that were sitting at the light at southbound Soncy and SW 45th.

Police said speed and alcohol were contributing factors.

The second crash happened around 9:35 p.m.

According to Amarillo police, a traffic supervisor responding to the first crash hit a pedestrian who darted out in front of him on Soncy at Lexington Square.

The pedestrian was taken to the hospital where he died.

His name has not been released.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating that crash.

An Amarillo police officer hit and killed a pedestrian on June 7, 2024 while responding to a nine vehicle deadly crash at Soncy Road and SW 45th Ave. (Jamie Burch/KVII)