FORT WORTH, Texas — A Fort Worth executive and his two children died in a crash in Central Texas on Wednesday night, according to officials and a statement from his company.
Zach Muckleroy, the CEO of Muckleroy & Falls construction company in Fort Worth, and his children, Judson, 12, and Lindsay, 9, died, according to statements from the company and Muckleroy's pastor, Russ Peterman.
The Texas Department of Public Safety released a preliminary report on the crash on Tuesday, detailing what happened.
At about 7:15 p.m. on Nov. 22, DPS troopers were called about the crash on US 281. According to the report, a Toyota Tacoma occupied by a male driver was traveling northbound on the road as a Chevrolet SUV with a female driver, adult male passenger and two juvenile passengers was traveling the opposite direction, followed by a woman driving a Nissan Versa.
For an unknown reason currently, the report said the Toyota veered across the double solid yellow lines into the opposite lane, striking the Chevrolet. The Nissan struck the Chevrolet from behind and rolled.
Due to the crash, the male passenger and both juveniles in the Chevrolet were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota was also pronounced dead after being taken to a medical facility. The driver of the Nissan was released and left the scene.
The investigation is still ongoing.
Peterman, the senior pastor at University Christian Church in Fort Worth, confirmed in a statement that Muckleroy and his children were killed in a crash near Johnson City on Wednesday night. Peterman said Muckleroy's wife, Lauren, survived the crash and was flown to an Austin hospital in critical condition.
A vigil for the family was planned at their church for 5 p.m. on Nov. 24, Peterman said.
The crash happened at about 6:40 p.m. Wednesday in the 14000 block of U.S. 281 in Round Mountain, which is between Marble Falls and Johnson City in Blanco County, North Blanco County EMS officials said in a statement.
EMS officials did not identify the victims but said three people died, including two children. Three other adults were injured in the crash, including two who were airlifted to a hospital.
More information about how the crash happened was not released.
Hundreds of people attended a vigil on Friday night, lighting candles and praying for the Muckleroy family.
“Zach was born and raised here and was raising his family here as well," Rev. Russ Peterman of University Christian Church said. "He is currently the chair of our elders. This is a big loss for our community of faith.”
Peterman said received news on Friday afternoon that Muckleroy's wife had a successful third surgery.
“Waking up to know that your entire family is lost, I just can’t imagine,” Peterman said.
Former Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price attended the vigil. She attends University Christian Church. Price is friends with Zach Muckleroy’s parents and remembers watching him as a child.
“We were all in Sunday school together,” Price said, teary-eyed. “It’s unbelievable. The Muckleroys are just pillars of our community and great Christian folks, great family folks, good business people.”
"Zach had a charisma about him and the uncanny ability to light up any room he walked into," Muckleroy & Falls said in a statement. "He had a charitable heart that made lasting impacts on the Fort Worth Community. He treasured his family and was a proud alumni of TCU."
Muckleroy played football at TCU in the late 1990s. Gary Patterson, the former football coach at TCU, posted about Muckleroy's death Thursday night, saying Muckleroy and his two children died in a head-on collision.
Muckleroy in an interview on his company's website said he graduated from TCU with an accounting and finance degree. He joined the family business in 2009.
"I have always loved building and constructing things dating back to Lincoln Logs and Legos when I was a kid," he said in the interview. "I believe you have to have passion and excitement in what you do. I am also a relationship centric person. In this industry you are continuously meeting new people and forging new relationships. The growth of these relationships is a constant reminder of just how small this world really is."
Peterman asked church members to pray for the Muckleroys' family.
"This gracious family is now forced to deal with the most tragic, unimaginable situation," Peterman said.
The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce on Monday said in a statement that it was "deeply saddened" to learn of Muckleroy's death, calling him a "significant figure" in the Fort Worth business community.
"His contributions were vital to the economic development of Fort Worth," the statement said. "This tragedy serves as a reminder of the preciousness of family and the importance of cherishing life’s moments.”
More North Texas news from WFAA: