New Braunfels mother, daughter killed in fiery crash
A New Braunfels mother and daughter were among the three people killed in a crash involving four semitrailers and two vehicles, authorities said.
Karen Barganier, 70, and her daughter, Jennifer Cludius, 43, were killed in the crash July 11 on Interstate 35 at Spur 396 in Waco, police there confirmed Friday. Police said the wreck was triggered when a semitrailer rammed into another semi and two passenger vehicles, causing explosions and flames and shutting down the highway for hours.
According to their obituaries, Barganier and Cludius were both from New Braunfels. Barganier was born there, and taught in the New Braunfels school district after receiving her degree from then-Southwest Texas State University in 1968.
Cludius also attended then-Southwest Texas State University and where she earned a bachelor and master’s degree in social work. She went on to work for the state’s fetal alcohol syndrome educational campaign, went on a mission trip to Rwanda and delivered Meals on Wheels meals, according to her obituary.
Waco police officials said Eugene Watts III, 31, was also killed in the crash. Watts was from Arlington.
A memorial service for both Cludius and Barganier is scheduled 2 p.m. Saturday at the Oakwood Baptist Church in New Braunfels.
Fred Cludius, Cludius’ husband, asked for prayers for him and the couple’s three children on Facebook Thursday. that rallied also signed a letter sent Monday to Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, disagreeing with the way Abbott and Patrick want to handle most of the education-related special session items.
Meanwhile, Abbott reiterated Monday that the pay raise would retain high-quality teachers, while Patrick said that critics of the plan want to implement a statewide income tax.
Garnering criticism for some education groups, bills that have been filed so far that align with Abbott’s agenda include one that would prohibit school districts from deducting union dues from teacher paychecks.
Another bill would allow state money to be redirected from public schools to help students with special needs pay for private school tuition. Critics have said the bill would create a private school voucher system.
“It would create a class system because our neediest kids don’t have parents that can transport them to any school they want to go to,” said Stephanie Stoebe, a Round Rock school district elementary teacher, who attended the rally to oppose a voucher-like system. “Students who speak another language — their parents don’t understand the process to take advantage of a voucher.”
Last week, Patrick unveiled a plan to give teachers a $1,000 pay raise, as well as a $600 to $1,000 yearly bonus, depending on how long the teacher has worked.
Patrick said that existing funds would be used to pay for the raises and bonuses — and if voters agree, lottery money would be used to maintain the bonuses and raises.
“I just think the pay raise is a little carrot, a distraction” from other education issues, said Christie Smith, a kindergarten teacher in the Pflugerville school district.