Valentina Nerea and Esmeralda Rauda Killed, Joshua Budai Injured in Wrong-Way Crash on SH 161 in Irving
Irving, TX. (March 8, 2021)- 21-year-old Valentina Nerea and 19-year-old Esmeralda Rauda were killed, and 21-year-old Joshua Budai was injured in a two-vehicle crash on March 5, 2021 in Irving, Texas. The accident occurred early Friday morning in the 2300 block of State Highway 161. Police reported that the driver of a northbound vehicle was traveling in the southbound lanes of the highway when they crashed head-on into the victim’s vehicle. Budai was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. His two passengers, Nerea and Rauda, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their dog was also killed in the crash. The wrong-way driver was taken to the hospital where they face two counts of intoxication manslaughter and one count of intoxication assault. The crash remains under investigation.
Our thoughts are with Joshua Budai and his family at this time. We wish him a full and speedy recovery.
We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the families of Valentina Nerea and Esmeralda Rauda. Our thoughts are with them at this time.
DUI Accidents in Texas
In 2017, studies show that approximately 13,177 accidents were caused by drunk driving in Texas. As a result of these accidents, approximately 521 people lost their lives and another 1,271 sustained injuries. Accidents almost always result when alcohol is involved because drivers are in less control of their bodies and vehicles, making them more prone to crashing into others.
Families who have lost loved ones in DUI accidents have the right to seek help from an experienced Texas wrongful death lawyer to help them file wrongful death lawsuits. At The Benton Law Firm, we offer those services and have succeeded in helping numerous families win their claims. Contact our office today for a free consultation at 214-777-7777.
Note: The information included in this post was derived from secondary sources and has not been independently confirmed. Any inaccurate information will be corrected immediately after being brought to the site’s attention. If you identify any false information within this story, please inform us immediately so we can adjust the post to contain the most accurate information available surrounding this event.
Disclaimer: The intent of this post is to provide general information to our readers and to help improve the safety and quality of life for those who live in our state. At The Benton Law Firm, we intend to honor those who are victimized in accidents across Texas. We aim to provide up to date information to the public surrounding these incidents in hopes of helping others avoid becoming victims themselves. If anyone is involved in an accident we would like to make sure they know how to respond, should a tragedy occur. Information in this post, should not be considered legal or medical advice. You should seek further assistance from a legal or medical professional if you or a loved one is a victim in an accident. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene.
