Durango High School football star middle linebacker Braxton Waddell was among those injured in a head-on crash Sunday north of Aztec that killed one and injured four.
The crash occurred at 11:20 a.m. on U.S. Highway 550 about 2 miles north of Aztec. It involved a pickup truck with Waddell from Durango, and a pickup truck with the Garcia family of four, from Aztec, according to an incident report from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
One driver was listed as unconscious, and three were reported as being trapped in their vehicles and in need of extrication, according to the report.
It was learned through GoFundMe accounts that the Aztec family in the crash was the Garcia family, which consisted of “Mr. Garcia, Mr. Garcia's wife and two kids.”
Mr. Garcia died in the crash, while his wife Catherine and their two children “are still hospitalized due to severity of their injuries,” Amber Layton wrote on the GoFundMe page.
The daughter, Alana Garcia, is a member of the Aztec High School Dance Team, which posted on Facebook that the family “has always been generous and caring supporters of our team,” and they lost “an amazing friend, protector and all-around incredible Dance Dad with the passing of Mr. Garcia.”
Waddell, a senior star middle linebacker for the 6-3 Durango High School football team, leads the Demons with 88 total tackles and is fourth on the team with seven tackles for a loss of yardage. He also wrestled last winter for Durango High School.
“On the football field, he's irreplaceable,” Durango High School football interim head coach Ryan Woolverton said. “He's our physical leader. He's a captain. He's a vocal leader. He's a kid who, if a practice is going slow, jumps in on scout team and gets everyone going. During games, he's the guy you look for to make the big play defensively, and he's been the backbone of a very good defensive unit force this year.
“So it's obviously a huge loss, one of our best players, but also one of our best leaders in the locker room and off the field. He's one of the best teammates, kindest and nicest kids you could be around. He's a kid that truly embraced and bought into what we were preaching as we reinvented this team.”
In less than a week since the crash, Waddell has undergone surgery on his back, abdomen and arm, according to his mother, Callie. She said the surgeries went well, and while the total recovery time is unknown, Waddell won’t be active for at least a year.
A GoFundMe page was started by Kristianna Bartel to raise funds for Waddell’s medical costs. It had raised more than $29,000 as of Wednesday.
Callie Waddell said the GoFundMe idea came from a group of teammates who wanted to support Waddell’s recovery. The boys have played football together since second grade and are super close. They realized the crash affected Waddell’s emotional health and the boys wanted to pull together to help him get through this tough time.
“It's amazing, almost overwhelming,” Callie Waddell said. “You don't realize what a good kid you raised until you see something like that. Just seeing how many lives he's touched at such a young age makes a mom proud, I'll tell you that much.”
Callie Waddell said she’s been getting calls, texts and messages on social media showing support from people she doesn’t know.
She described her son as a larger-than-life type of kid who’s always had a zest for life while being grateful and appreciative toward the people around him.
The New Mexico State Police Department is investigating the crash. Callie Waddell said neither she nor her son know what caused the crash. She said there’s a lot of unknowns and things that don’t make sense.
Callie Waddell said the Garcia family is in their thoughts and prayers after the crash. She said it is important to her and Waddell that their family is taken care of.
The Durango football team plays at 6 p.m. Friday at home against Vista Ridge. Callie Waddell said Waddell’s goal is to be at the game on Friday to support his brothers in their senior year.
“I’m not sure words can describe what it would mean to the team just to have him there,” Woolverton said. “Even though we know he's not playing, but the fact that it's even a chance for him to be there Friday tells you the type of player and type of person he is.”
bkelly@durangoherald.com
