A woman injured in a crash involving an 18-wheeler on Interstate 30 in Mesquite earlier this week has died, police confirmed.
In a news release, the police department identified the deceased woman as Amanda Smith, 50, of Dallas. She died shortly before 3 a.m. Wednesday, the release stated.
Brandon Ricketts, a Mesquite police spokesman told The Dallas Morning News the department was notified of the death early Wednesday.
No criminal charges had been filed, as of Wednesday, in connection with the multivehicle collision, the release read.
“A semi hit the center barrier and flipped on its side. [In] the process, numerous additional vehicles were struck,” according to Mesquite police.
Police had said at least three people were hospitalized, two of whom were in “critical condition.”
Freda Easley, 74, of Royse City is still in “critical condition” at a medical facility, police said, adding that a third person, Kefyalew Jaleta, 37, is believed to be in “stable condition.”
Three cats were involved in the crash and had been taken in by the Mesquite Animal Shelter, police had said.
In a Facebook post Wednesday, Cat Matchers, a rescue organization based in Plano, said Smith was a volunteer for the organization. The post described her as a passionate and dedicated advocate who was integral to not only the efforts of the Plano nonprofit, but to the cat rescue community in North Texas.
Tammy Kidwell, president of Cat Matchers, said Smith’s work to promote ethical trap-neuter-return practices and her volunteerism “saved and bettered the lives of countless cats.” Kidwell said the organization is devastated to lose someone who was an inspiration and leader to many in the cat-rescue community.
The nonprofit has gotten an “outpouring” of support, Kidwell said. The organization has also shared images of the cats that were involved in the crash and provided updates on their recovery.
“Amanda touched so many through Cat Matchers but also worked with many individual rescuers as well as people needing help,” Kidwell said. “She was heavily involved in the TNR/Community cat circles. This is where her loss will be felt tremendously.”
