LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Authorities confirmed that a 63-year-old male died after an accident involving two tractor-trailers and an SUV near the Colombia Solidarity Bridge.

According to Laredo Police, the accident occurred on Wednesday, March 12, at around 3:30 p.m. along Mines Rd. and Camino Colombia Rd.

When first responders arrived, they identified one person trapped in the SUV while a second person was on the roadway in critical condition.

One tractor-trailer driver refused medical treatment, while the other driver sought treatment and was transported in non-critical condition.

This is part of a developing case; more information will be provided as it becomes available.

Below is the original article:

Authorities have confirmed that one person has died after a crash involving a tractor-trailer and another vehicle near the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge.

According to Laredo Police, the accident occurred on Wednesday, March 12, at around 3:30 p.m.

It is advised to drive with caution if in the area, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A fifth suspect is arrested in connection to a social media challenge that encourages people to steal cars.

In February, KGNS initially reported on four teenagers who were arrested for participating in the TikTok Kia challenge trend.

On March 12, KGNS obtained court documents naming Enrique Martinez III as the fifth person arrested in the crime.

According to the documents, Martinez was seen through bridge cameras driving a stolen car into Mexico.

“If you own a Hyundai or a Kia between the models of 2011 and 2021, take extra precautions; we know this trend is happening to vehicles that are not push to start. So, if your vehicle is a Kia or a Hyundai and use a key to start the ignition, we recommend you take those precautions. To assist the community and take precautions, we are offering free Hyundai and Kia club locks for the vehicles,” said Gina Gonzales with the Laredo Police Department.

For more information on the club locks, you can call the Auto Theft Task Force at (956) 795-2341.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A 25-year-old man, Daniel Torres, is now behind bars after a months-long investigation led to his arrest on Tuesday.

According to the Webb County Sheriff’s Office, authorities received information in September about an individual receiving child porn through social media. The Cyber-Crime Unit launched an investigation and later identified Torres as the suspect.

A search warrant was executed at the 200 block of Alfonso Orenelas Road, where Torres was taken into custody. He was then transported to the Webb County Jail.

The investigation remains ongoing.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed at a Laredo Port of Entry apprehended a man wanted for homicide in Arkansas.

Officers at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge referred 43-year-old Mexican citizen Luis Antonio Vega Romero for a secondary inspection on March 7. During this process, officers utilized biometric verifications and federal law enforcement databases to confirm his identity.

CBP was able to discover that Romero was the subject of a felony warrant for negligent vehicular homicide and manslaughter, issued by the Prairie County Sheriff’s Office in Des Arc, Arkansas.

Once the warrants were confirmed by CBP, Romero was transported to the Webb County jail to await criminal proceedings.

Concerning the case, Port Director Albert Flores released a statement that reads:

“Bringing a fugitive to justice is not only about the arrest but also about honoring the lives lost in this particular incident and ensuring accountability.”

“Through interagency collaboration, we can intercept these wanted individuals in the pursuit of justice.”

- Port Director of Laredo Port of Entry, Albert Flores

Criminal charges are merely allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Two teens and one child are in stable condition after crashing their all-terrain vehicle (ATV), with one being airlifted to a hospital in San Antonio for treatment.

Neighbors described the accident as terrible, and authorities say it’s a common activity during warmer months to ride motorized vehicles in ranches.

People ride them on city streets without a helmet at times, which can cause things to go wrong.

“The girl just started crying very loud, and we knew something was wrong. My husband and I rushed out, and our neighbors across the street rushed out too. We could tell immediately that it was bad,” said one neighbor, Nichelle Goonan.

She was one of the neighbors on Palestine Dr. to rush out the moment three individuals crashed their ATV on Monday night, March 10. The victims included a male and a female, both 18-years-old, and an 11-year-old boy.

“We had just finished dinner, and we heard something, but then the girl started crying very loud. I knew something was wrong,” Goonan added.

Joe Baeza with the Laredo Police Department explained the driver, the 18-year-old male, was going down the neighborhood with the other two passengers.

“The all-terrain vehicle lost control and hit square on with a light pole. All three passengers were ejected from the all-terrain vehicle. In any of these types of accidents, the biggest concern is injuries to the head, and none of the three people had any type of head protection or helmet on,” Baeza said.

According to reports from the Laredo Fire Department, the woman had multiple wounds to the head, and the male suffered injuries to the face, with the boy receiving an injury to his head.

Goonan recalled the woman being unable to stay conscious, mentioning, “It was scary, but we were able to get a first aid kit and try to help while calling for the ambulance. They came very quickly, which was good, but it was scary.”

As of Tuesday morning, March 11, all three passengers remained in stable condition.

LPD urges community members that if people are using ATVs, to make sure to do it with care, as things can go wrong in an instant.

The department states that upon returning, it is likely the male driver will receive citations for his part in the accident.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - The City of Laredo is preparing to roll out a new initiative called Laredo Rising to revitalize some neighborhoods in need within the community.

The program is being created by Laredo City Manager, Joe Neeb, and will target key issues that would impact the quality of life of residents in the area.

This would include improving safety in areas prone to crime and providing funds to improve public spaces.

Laredo’s Mayor, Dr. Victor Trevino, states that this initiative is motivated by the recent growth within the community.

People are not going to do it on their own, they need to have leadership, and this is what Laredo Rising is all about, to make people informed. Make them informed that we need to start thinking of these good things for the city, and we all have to do it together," Trevino said.

As of now, the program remains in the early stages and discussions are set to continue.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Webb County Commissioner for Precinct 1, Jesse Gonzalez, is set to host the eighth annual Spring Break Week for children attending certain community centers.

The center’s children must be registered in are listed below:

• Rio Bravo Community Center

• Rio Bravo Activity Center

• El Cenizo Community Center

• El Cenizo Activity Center

• EJ Salinas Community Center

• La Presa Community Center

Spring Break Week offers a full week of enjoyable activities for kids, free of charge. The activities are scheduled to begin on Monday, March 10, through Friday, March 14.

A full list of the dates and activities are listed below:

• Monday:

  • Laredo Safari and Adventure Park, Ranch Road 7918F, 10:00 a.m.- noon

• Tuesday:

  • Cinemark Mall Del Norte, 5300 San Dario Ave. Lion King movie, 11: 00 a.m.

• Wednesday:

  • Play Day at the Park, El Eden Park 4735 Loma Vista Dr., 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• Thursday:

  • Imaginarium of South Texas LC West End Washington St., 10:00 a.m. – noon

• Friday:

  • Rio Bravo Splash Pad 1600 Orquidia Ln, Rio Bravo, 11: a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Lunch will be provided all week. For more information, call (956) 523-4649 or (956) 267-6866.