Family Sues SpaceX for Negligence After Texas Crash Kills Man, Seeking $20M
On 4/30/21 at 8:17 AM EDT
A Texas family is suing SpaceX for negligence following a vehicle accident near the company s Boca Chica facility outside Brownsville that led to the death of a father-of-three.
Carlos Venegas, 35, was driving west along State Highway 4 with his wife and children at just after 4 a.m. on June 7, 2020 when their pickup truck crashed into the rear of an eighteen-wheeler commercial trailer, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Venegas, from San Benito, died at the scene due to blunt force trauma to his head, while the other passengers, including his children aged 14, 11 and two, suffered spinal and leg injuries.
One Texas beach is off limits to travel to for Spring Break this week.
On Monday, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño ordered the temporary closure of Boca Chica beach and State Highway 4 due to anticipated testing activities for SpaceX.
According to the order, the beach will be closed Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 8 p.m. and Friday from 7 a.m. to noon. The judge said the closure is for the purpose of protecting public and health safety during Space X s non-flight testing activities.
Law enforcement and SpaceX authorities will be coordinating to ensure that no individuals or vehicles are allowed access to those areas during the time the closures take place, the order stated.