Local News
Mexican Counselors Silvana Garza Valdez and Maria Paula Zárate Hailed as Heroes After Rescuing Camp Mystic Girls During Texas Flooding
KERR COUNTY, TEXAS — Amid the catastrophic flooding that devastated Central Texas and swept through Camp Mystic, two young Mexican women—Silvana Garza Valdez and Maria Paula Zárate, both 19—are being hailed as heroes after risking their lives to protect and rescue young campers under their care.
The two women, serving as counselors at Camp Mystic near the Guadalupe River, sprang into action as flash floods overwhelmed the campgrounds early on July 4.
According to firsthand accounts and family confirmations, the counselors were responsible for saving at least 20 young girls—calming them, sheltering them, and keeping them safe until emergency crews could arrive.
During the flooding, the camp lost power and communications. Garza, recounting the experience to Channel2 NOW, said, “We went to sleep, and around midnight, it started to rain like nothing I’d ever experienced. The thunder rattled the windows, and lightning lit up the cabins. No one could sleep. The little girls were crying, saying, ‘We’re going to die.’ I had to stay strong, even though I was scared, too.”
By early morning, the Guadalupe River had surged violently, rising over 15 feet and sweeping away parts of the camp.
Entire cabins disappeared under water and debris. Garza and Zárate gathered the girls, reassured them, and even wrote each child’s name on her arm in case they became separated.
They sang songs, distracted the girls from the chaos, and waited in the highest cabin area for help to arrive.
Eventually, food and other rescued girls began arriving at their cabin from other parts of the camp that had been destroyed. Garza said, “We were told 25 girls were missing.
They had found two survivors who had floated downstream, but 23 were still unaccounted for.” Conditions quickly worsened, prompting an urgent evacuation as helicopters and military personnel arrived to extract the remaining children.
The emotional toll was evident as Garza described seeing mattresses in trees, children’s clothes hanging from branches, and wreckage scattered across the floodplain. “It’s something I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” she said tearfully. “Two days before the flood, we were scheduled to be in one of the cabins that was washed away.”
The bravery of Garza and Zárate has resonated widely across social media, where they’ve been described as “guardian angels” and praised for their extraordinary courage and quick thinking during the deadliest U.S. weather disaster of 2025.
As of July 7, the Central Texas flooding has claimed at least 83 lives, with fatalities reported across multiple counties:
- Kerr County: 68
- Travis County: 6
- Burnet County: 4
- Williamson County: 2
- Kendall County: 2
- Tom Green County: 1
The Texas Military Department confirmed that 520 individuals have been rescued during the flooding, including 361 air evacuations via UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and 159 ground rescues.
Search and rescue operations remain active, with dozens still missing—many of them children.
The devastation at Camp Mystic, a beloved all-girls Christian summer camp preparing to celebrate its centennial, has shaken families across the country.
The heroism displayed by Silvana Garza Valdez and Maria Paula Zárate stands out as a beacon of light amid unimaginable tragedy.
Authorities continue to urge the public to respect the privacy of victims’ families and refrain from reaching out using previously circulated contact information.
Emergency services remain focused on reunification, recovery, and support for survivors.
Local News
Donald Robert Morris-Jones Charged in Fatal Wake County Cycling Crash That Killed One and Injured Seven; Bond Set at $1 Million
WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — A devastating collision involving a group of cyclists in Wake County, North Carolina, left one person dead and seven others injured. A 76-year-old Apex man, identified as Donald Robert Morris-Jones, has been arrested and faces multiple felony charges in connection with the crash.
According to the information provided in court records, Morris-Jones was arrested on November 7, 2026, following an investigation by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Authorities allege that he struck multiple cyclists and failed to remain at the scene after the collision.
The incident has deeply affected the cycling community, with one family mourning the loss of a loved one and seven other victims facing injuries and recovery.
Morris-Jones faces a series of charges across two related cases. The charges listed in the supplied court information include:
- One count of felony death by vehicle.
- Seven counts of felony serious injury by vehicle.
- Eight counts of felony hit-and-run involving serious injury or death.
- Driving while impaired.
- Reckless driving with wanton disregard.
- Driving left of center.
The eight hit-and-run counts allege that Morris-Jones failed to stop following the collision, which resulted in one death and injuries to seven other people.
These are allegations contained in the criminal charges. Morris-Jones is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
One charging document alleges that Morris-Jones was driving on State Road 1390 while under the influence of an impairing substance, resulting in serious injuries to another person.
The document describes injuries that reportedly included damage to the person’s leg and ribs, as well as a laceration to the left arm.
A driving-while-impaired record indicates that a blood test was ordered. However, the results had not been released in the information provided, and no conclusion about the test results can be drawn at this stage.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.
A judicial official set secured bonds totaling $1 million across the two cases.
The bond amounts were listed as:
- $750,000 in one case.
- $250,000 in the related case.
According to the supplied court documents, the judicial official cited the combined offenses and described an “overwhelming danger to society.” The official also noted that Morris-Jones appeared to have no significant criminal history while expressing concern that he had allegedly attempted to flee to avoid prosecution.
The bond decision reflects the court’s assessment at this stage of the proceedings and does not establish guilt.
Morris-Jones is scheduled to appear in Wake County District Court on November 9, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. The hearing is listed for Courtroom 304.
Further proceedings are expected to address the charges as the case moves through the judicial process. Additional information about the crash, the victims, and the investigation may be released as it becomes available.
Beyond the criminal charges and court proceedings, the crash has left families and an entire cycling community facing a painful loss.
One person will not return home, while seven others have reportedly suffered serious injuries. Their loved ones must now navigate the uncertainty, emotional strain, and challenges that follow a sudden and traumatic event.
For the cyclists involved, what began as a morning ride ended in tragedy. Friends, relatives, and fellow riders are left remembering the person who died while hoping for recovery and healing for those who survived.
Our thoughts are with the family of the person who lost their life, the seven injured cyclists, and everyone affected by this devastating collision.
May the person who died be remembered with love and dignity, and may the injured victims find strength and healing in the days ahead.