So disheartening: A tragic head-on collision that killed three Odessa siblings and the driver of another vehicle has prompted a tidal wave of sorrow and donations to help a deputy with a …👇👇👇

Eighteen-year-old twin boys Jaden and Jackie Jurado and their sister, 16-year-old Nautica Carrasco, were involved in a head-on crash Wednesday on FM 1053. All three children died upon impact. The three kids are the children of Patrol Lt. Heather Perkins, who has worked for Ector County Sheriff’s Office for 23 years. (Courtesy Photo)
A tragic head-on collision that killed three Odessa siblings and the driver of another vehicle has prompted a tidal wave of sorrow and donations to help a deputy with a devastating loss.

The accident impacted one of the Ector County Sheriff’s Department’s own, Patrol Lt. Heather Perkins as it claimed the lives of three of her children, 18-year-old twins Jaden and Jackie Jurado and their sister, 16-year-old Nautica Carrasco.

Perkins has seven children.

According to a Texas Department of Public Safety report, preliminary information revealed that the driver of a 2024 GM Sierra, Gary Don Liles, 48, of Brownfield, was traveling southbound on FM 1053 and a 2012 Jeep Wrangler, driven by 18-year-old Jackie Lee Perkins, was traveling northbound on FM 1053

A head-on collision occurred between these two vehicles. As a result of the crash, the Jeep became fully engulfed in flames, and all occupants of Jeep were pronounced deceased on the scene, the report said.

Liles was airlifted to Medical Center Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased, the report said.

Judge Twilah Ward pronounced the teenagers dead at the scene, the DPS report said. The report said the crash is still under investigation.

The crash occurred about 7:20 p.m. Wednesday. The Odessa teens attended school in Buena Vista.

Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis said he got a call at 7:21 p.m. Wednesday night from Lt. Perkins who had received a notification from one of her children’s phones that indicated a crash on FM 1053. He said Lt. Perkins was one of the first people on the scene.

When she arrived, the car was on fire,” Griffis said.

Griffis said he went out to the scene as well. FM 1053 is a two-lane road about 30 to 40 miles from Odessa.

Ultimately, it was a head-on collision involving a Jeep Wrangler and a 3/4-ton … pickup. (At) this time, there’s no confirmation on who was in the wrong lane. The Jeep was occupied … by Jaden and Jackie Jurado and Nautica Carrasco. The three children are the children of Lt. Heather Perkins, who works here at the sheriff’s office. To giv
e you a little history on the Perkins, her father retired in 2015 with 37 years of service. When he left, he was a lieutenant on patrol. Heather had gone to work in our jail in 2001 and moved up through the ranks. When Lt. Jackie Perkins left, Lt. Heather Perkins took over his shift. They’ve been a part of our family for a long time, over 40 years,” Griffis said.

“We’ve watched her kids grow, as well as others. These two young men were football stars, athletic stars, in their school in Imperial and the little girl was involved in all that stuff, too,” he added.

The kids drove to school every day from Odessa. Griffis said the Perkins children had attended school at Buena Vista for years. The district has closed down for the rest of the week but is offering counseling to students.

The twin boys turned 18 on Nov. 13 and Nautica turned 16 on Nov. 17, he said. The boys were involved in football and basketball and social media indicates that Nautica played basketball.

“I’ll say this, she has done a phenomenal job raising all those kids. Every one of them are good kids and (she’s) pretty much done it by herself. She’s got a big support group (with) her dad and mom living next door … They’re just good people; good God-fearing people and we need those prayers,” Griffis said.

“We did establish a GoFundMe account,” he added. By Friday that GoFundMe had raised more than $184,652.

He noted that the GoFundMe page was put up Thursday morning by his administrative assistant.

Griffis said his phone has been “blowing up” with people from all over the state contacting them regarding the accident.

Just an overwhelming response. Some local agencies and businessmen that have donated, but didn’t go through GoFundMe, they’re just donating to the family via check or whatever. DPS is out there now working the scene, still trying to figure out the cause of the accident and we hope to have that information soon. Ultimately, the driver of the other vehicle did die also last night, he was transported by ambulance to Medical Center Hospital,” Griffis said.

“We live in the best community in the country,” he added.

He asked for prayers for the Perkins family.

“About two years ago, Heather lost a niece to a trailer house fire” where a child with Down Syndrome perished, Griffis said. “They’ve had their share of tragedy, but this one topped it all. It’s tough for me, but very few people know what Heather is going through right now. I ask prayers for Heather and her family,” Griffis said.

If anyone wants to send a card to Heather Perkins, mail it to P.O. Box, 2066, Odessa, Texas, 79760.

“Send her some love. She’s in a bad place right now,” Griffis said.

There is a donation box in the lobby of the Sheriff’s Office and people can donate directly to Lt. Perkins at First Basin Credit Union. The account number is 47006.

Gary Duesler, a former Sheriff’s Office spokesman, knows the Perkins family well. His children also graduated from Buena Vista.

“Of course, I’ve worked with Jackie Perkins … her dad and Heather I’ve known my whole career, I guess,” Duesler said.

Liles worked for Southern Power and the company released a statement late Friday.

“We are devastated by this loss of life and are cooperating with local authorities as they search for the cause of the crash. But what we do know is that four lives were taken too soon, and we grieve for these families as well as the broader community in and around Odessa.”

Many entities have posted on Facebook offering condolences in the wake of the tragedy including University of Texas Permian Basin and Ector County ISD.

ECISD posted on Facebook that they are “incredibly saddened by the news of this tragic accident. Our community is sending love, thoughts and prayers to the family and the entirety of Buena Vista ISD.”

CHUCKWAGON GANG

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The Chuckwagon Gang will host a hamburger feed to raise funds for the Perkins family. The event is 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ector County Coliseum’s Barn A on Dec. 6. The event is in collaboration with the law enforcement

community. Plates are $20 and can be pre-ordered or sit down.

Pre order by calling 432-425-3898.