2 children die, 1 injured when semi hits pickup in U.S. 380 crash near Decatur
A 16-year-old driver and her 13-year-old brother died, and their 12-year-old sister is hospitalized after the pickup truck they were riding in was hit by an 18-wheeler in Wise County on Monday, authorities said.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the front passenger, 13-year-old Nolan Christensen, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on U.S. 380 near Decatur. The driver, 16-year-old Sophia Christensen, was taken to Medical City Denton hospital, where she died.
Ella Christensen, 12, who was sitting in a back passenger seat, was taken to Cook’s Children Hospital in Fort Worth. A Wise County EMS official said that she was in critical condition.
The crash occurred on U.S. 380 at its intersection with Private Road 4011, east of Decatur, about 6:40 a.m., DPS officials said in a news release.
DPS’ preliminary investigation found that a Ford F-150 was coming from Private Road 4011 and trying to cross the highway when it pulled in front of a Freightliner that was towing a trailer. The Freightliner then hit the Ford F-150, which had the three children inside.
The 33-year-old driver of the Freightliner tractor-trailer was treated for minor injuries, police said.
Family experienced ‘unimaginable loss,’ school officials say
According to the Wise County Messenger, the Decatur school district sent a letter Monday to parents and staff members, saying that a family had “experienced unimaginable loss following a tragic vehicle accident early this morning.” Decatur ISD asked the community to “keep this family in your hearts and prayers.”
“Grief expresses itself in many ways. Although school is out for the summer, we know that this tragedy may raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our entire school community — especially our students,” Superintendent Taylor Williams wrote in the letter, the Messenger reported. “Please be mindful of this and know that we will be available to support you and your family as these emotions are processed.”
According to the letter from Decatur ISD, First Baptist Church of Decatur’s Youth Center will be open at 6 p.m. Monday, and counselors will be available 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Decatur High School auditorium. Families and staff members may also contact their school campus or Wise County Christian Counseling at 940-627-1618 or visit wiseccc.org.
According to Wise County EMS Chief Randall Preuninger, the pickup truck was T-boned by the 18-wheeler.
The 18-wheeler jackknifed, overturned and came to a stop on the median, according to DPS. The pickup slid onto the grass off the south shoulder of the highway.
“Occupants in the pickup were entrapped and required our Rescue-1 personnel to extricate,” Preuninger said in an email. “Three ambulances were assigned along with our rescue truck.”
A PHI Air Medical helicopter also responded, but none of the patients were transported by air, he said.
The investigation is ongoing, Texas DPS said.
This story was originally published June 16, 2025 at 2:28 PM.