It was just before 2 a.m. on a quiet Monday when tragedy tore through a stretch of road in Amarillo. In the darkness at Northeast 15th Avenue and Dumas Drive, two young women lost their lives in a crash that police say should never have happened.
Officers were called to the scene around 1:57 a.m. on March 23 after reports of a major collision involving a semi-truck and a Ford Bronco. When they arrived, the situation was already devastating. The SUV had been traveling the wrong way, heading north in lanes meant for southbound traffic.
Investigators say the Bronco slammed head-on into the semi. The impact was severe, leaving little chance for survival. Inside the SUV were 24-year-old Nallely Salais and 24-year-old Jasmin Lerma. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
The occupants of the semi-truck walked away unharmed, a stark contrast to the loss inside the smaller vehicle. Police have not indicated any injuries on the truck driver’s side, and the focus quickly shifted to understanding how the crash unfolded.
For those who knew Nallely Salais, the loss cuts deep. She was remembered as someone warm and open-hearted. Her obituary describes her as a loving and friendly person who made connections easily, the kind of presence that filled a room without trying too hard.
Jasmin Lerma’s family is now facing not just grief, but the heavy burden that comes after sudden loss. A fundraiser has been organized to support her mother, Aracely, as she navigates funeral arrangements no parent ever expects to make. In just a short time, contributions began to come in, a sign of how many lives Jasmin touched.
The intersection where it happened is now just another patch of road again, but for two families, everything has changed. What remains are memories, unanswered questions, and the quiet weight of a night that ended far too soon.
