The Midland RockHounds hosted a celebration for roadside heroes on July 27 during their game, recognizing individuals who intervened in a tragic crash in Midland County.
Steve Ford, Death Investigator for Midland County, collaborated with Midland Times, community businesses, and the RockHounds to honor the heroes who risked their lives to save others. The event highlighted the heroic actions of Jared South and Fernando Chavez, employees of Schlumberger, and Joe Bustamante from Capstream Downhole Solutions.
The incident occurred on May 6, 2024, involving a fatal, fiery three-vehicle crash on FM 1788 and CR 140. South, Chavez, and Bustamante responded immediately, saying they heard children screaming from inside a burning Ford F-150. They worked together to pry open the crushed door and rescued Brenda Guerrero, 32, and her two daughters, ages 3 and 10. The father, Lorenzo Najera, was pronounced dead at the scene. Guerrero suffered paralysis and is now confined to a wheelchair, while Bustamante required treatment for smoke inhalation.
After the wreck, Ford began networking with local businesses to make the celebration happen, including working with RockHounds Customer Sales and Service Manager, Savannah Simpson. “I got goosebumps. We love to honor local heroes,” said Simpson.
“As law enforcement, as Death Investigators, we have a really tough job and sometimes see the worst of things”, said Carlos Castanos, Field Supervisor for the Death Investigators department for Midland County. Ford chimed in, saying, “We all have a true love for our community and its people. Our Death Investigators department truly wanted to give back to these heroes.”
During the celebration at the RockHounds game, Ford recognized each of the three heroes in front of the crowd. The heroes were presented with gifts from local businesses and each threw out the first pitches of the game. The gifts included:
- Custom-made hero plaques donated by Homewood Suites by Hilton.
- Custom Yeti coolers, swag, and jerseys donated by Spartan Consulting and Safety.
- Meals donated by Rusty Bucket restaurant.
- $500 donated to each hero by Joey Mac Services.
A surprise moment during the event was when the surviving family came out to personally thank the heroes.
Katrina Mendenhall with Spartan Consulting and Safety expressed her admiration, saying, “When Steve called, I couldn’t believe the story and so wanted to help! If this was my family, I’d hope someone was this heroic for them.”
“These guys risked their own lives to save these two little girls while everyone else stood around taking videos for likes on social media. I wanted to do something for them that might bless their families,” said Joey McMahan with Joey Mac Services.