LUBBOCK, Texas — A night that started like any other turned tragic on Sunday in Lubbock when 19‑year‑old Sean Canales died and 17‑year‑old Maizie Casares was left fighting for her life after their motorcycle slammed into a guardrail on the Marsha Sharp Freeway. The collision happened just after 7:30 p.m. on the westbound lanes near 29th Drive, according to the Lubbock Police Department.
Officers who responded found both teens with serious injuries at the scene. Paramedics rushed them to University Medical Center, where Canales was later pronounced dead. Casares remains hospitalized in critical condition as medical staff continue treatment.
Police say the motorcycle, which Canales was driving, was heading west when it struck a guardrail on the north side of the roadway. There were no other vehicles involved, and no additional injuries were reported. Officers have not released any information about weather or road conditions at the time of the crash.
The Major Crash Unit of the Lubbock Police Department has taken over the investigation. Detectives are working to collect evidence from the scene, including measurements of the roadway and information about the motorcycle and its path before impact. Officials have not indicated what might have caused the bike to hit the guardrail.
The Marsha Sharp Freeway is one of the busiest east‑west routes in Lubbock, carrying daily commuters and commercial traffic through the city. Guardrails separate the lanes to prevent crossover crashes, but high speeds on that stretch of road can turn a single‑vehicle mistake into something deadly.
Motorcycle riders face greater risk on Texas roads because they lack the protective shell of a car or truck. State and local traffic data show that motorcyclists make up a significant share of traffic fatalities each year. Police always urge riders to wear proper safety gear and obey traffic laws, though they have not yet released details of what gear Canales or Casares were wearing Sunday night.
As the investigation continues, authorities are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or who has video footage from the area, to contact the Lubbock Police Department’s Major Crash Unit. No charges or citations have been announced so far while detectives piece together how this tragedy unfolded.
