The Eden and San Angelo communities are reeling after a beloved local, 51‑year‑old Aleasa Ogle, was killed in a catastrophic head‑on collision late Wednesday night, leaving friends and family searching for answers. What was supposed to be a routine drive along U.S. Highway 87 turned into a nightmare that has shaken the tight‑knit west Texas region.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash unfolded around 9:20 p.m. on December 10, roughly 7.5 miles southeast of San Angelo on U.S. 87. Ogle was behind the wheel of her 2022 Nissan Rogue, driving eastbound, when a 2022 GMC Canyon pickup — traveling the wrong way in the eastbound lanes at highway speed — struck her vehicle head‑on with tremendous force.
First responders arrived to find the roadway strewn with debris and both vehicles severely damaged. Despite immediate life‑saving efforts, Ogle was pronounced dead at the scene by Judge Thomas Daniels. The impact was so severe that it left loved ones stunned and searching for words to express their grief.
The driver of the pickup, 26‑year‑old Angelica Diaz of San Angelo, survived the collision but with serious, incapacitating injuries. She was airlifted to Shannon Medical Center for treatment. Law enforcement confirmed that both Ogle and Diaz were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, and conditions on the road were clear and dry, leaving investigators puzzled about why the pickup was traveling in the wrong direction.
Troopers from the Texas Highway Patrol, supported by the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office and the Wall Volunteer Fire Department, are actively investigating. Officials have not yet disclosed why Diaz was headed westbound in the eastbound lanes, and interviews with witnesses and evidence review are still underway.
Friends and family describe Ogle as a warm, generous soul whose presence greatly enriched the Eden community. In the days since the crash, neighbors have shared stories of her kindness and the countless ways she touched lives. Her sudden loss is deeply felt, and community members have rallied around her family, offering support and comfort during an unimaginable time.
This tragedy comes on the heels of another fatal crash in Tom Green County just a day earlier, when 76‑year‑old Jose Gallegos died in a separate collision at U.S. Highway 277 and Reece Road on December 9, highlighting the stark dangers still present on the area’s roads.
As the investigation continues, the community honors Aleasa Ogle’s memory — holding tight to cherished moments with her, and leaning on one another for strength and healing in the days ahead.
