Fatal Crash on State Highway 31 East in Smith County

SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS – On September 29, 2025, at 6:40 a.m., Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 31 East in Smith County.

A preliminary investigation indicated that Vehicle 1 was traveling eastbound on State Highway 31 East and Vehicle 2 was traveling westbound on State Highway 31 East. The driver of Vehicle 1 drove onto the wrong side of the roadway, entering the path of Vehicle 2, and both vehicles collided nearly head-on.

The driver of Vehicle 1, Alejandro Julian Martinez, a 19-year-old from Kilgore, Texas, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Vehicle 1 also had two male passengers, Jonathan Josue Perez, 20 YOA, and David Morales Ramos, 21 YOA, both of Kilgore, Texas, who were also pronounced deceased on scene.

The driver of Vehicle 2, Nicholas Colby Sanders, a 40-year-old from Kilgore, Texas, was also pronounced deceased at the scene.

This investigation is ongoing, and no additional information is available.