Seguin mourns loss of SHS athlete killed in area car crash
(Seguin) — The Seguin community continues to mourn the loss of a local Seguin High School teen who died following injuries sustained in a vehicle crash last week in San Marcos.
San Marcos Police responded to the crash before 5 p.m. Wednesday on State Highway 123 near Love-Lady Lane. The teen, Chloe Belicek, died a day later, just after 8 p.m.
Immediately after hearing the news, Seguin community members joined the Matador Family to comfort her family. Personal tributes continue to pour in on social media, remembering the 17-year-old, who is described as an elite athlete. She played on the high school softball and volleyball varsity teams and was also an active member of the FFA. Most of the praise, however, has been on the teen’s strong and positive spirit.
In her post, Kristin Daws-Dailey, the wife of Seguin Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Craig Dailey, states that “she was the light in the dark.
The smile that would always brighten your day, the hug that was needed and the wittiness that was appreciated. She was the first to arrive and the last to leave. She is the type of kid that everybody wanted to be around because her presence radiated light.”
Even folks who have never met Belicek have since passed on their condolences to family and friends.
One of those remembering her spirit was Lori Major Redix who writes, “Chloe, sweet girl, before a couple of days ago, I did not know you. Now, I feel that I am proud to know who you are. My husband, Coach Philip Redix, said you were special. He says you were just a really good kid, the kind you wish was your own child. He said you had great manners and were so happy. He said you were a joy to have around. He could see your potential and knew you were a champion in the way you performed. Until, a couple of days ago, I hadn’t had a conversation with him about you but sadly, this tragic event gave him a reason to tell me who you were.”
The community can find a host of many other similar posts praising Belicek for the life she lived. Several prayer gatherings have already been held in her honor. A number of folks attended a prayer gathering on Friday at Matador Stadium. A moment of silence outside her family’s church, St. James Catholic Church, was also held on Saturday. A regularly scheduled mass, dedicated in her memory, also followed that afternoon.
A full investigation into the crash continues this week. However, initial investigation, according to San Marcos Police, indicates that after a minor collision, the driver of a Ford four-door passenger vehicle got out to “possibly” exchange insurance and/or figure out the damage with the driver of the other vehicle. While that driver was able to pull their vehicle off the roadway, the Ford vehicle sat disabled in the roadway will Belicek still inside in the passenger seat.
That’s when officers say a third vehicle, a Dodge pickup truck, collided with the back end of the Ford, critically injuring the teen. The driver and sole occupant of the Dodge was also transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
San Marcos Police say, at this time, it’s also unclear whether any charges will be filed.
Meanwhile, a Chloe Strong Memorial Fund has been set up at First United Bank in Seguin. Donations will be collected to help the family with funeral and medical costs. The bank is located at 200 N. Austin St.