Passenger Killed and Driver Ejected in Horrific Crash

SAN ANGELO, TX – A crash near Colorado City on Sunday took the life of one person.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, on Nov. 29, troopers with the DPS were dispatched to the IH 20, 5 miles West of Colorado City, for the report of a major crash.

When they arrived, the troopers found a 2018 Chevy Pickup that had crashed and was stopped at the other side of the roadway.

Troopers found three individuals who were in the pickup. Darren Wade Heady, male, 22, of Grapeland was driving the vehicle. Jimmy L. Gonzalez, male, 25, of Carthage and Jake Michael Golightly, male, 22, of Palestine were passengers. 

Heady and Gonzalez were taken to the Mitchell County Hospital. Heady was ejected from the pickup. Golightly died in the crash. None of the passengers were wearing a seatbelt.

After further investigation the troopers determined the pickup was traveling west on IH-20 in the left lane. The pickup veered left striking a guardrail, swerved right, then left striking the guardrail again. The driver and deceased were ejected during the crash as the pickup swerved right across the traffic lanes and striking the guardrail on the opposite side of the roadway.

Golightly's body was taken to Kiker-Seale Funeral Home in Colorado City.