2-vehicle collision kills both drivers
A church choir director and gospel singer who died Friday in an Humble-area crash was remembered not only for her musical talents, but for her caring personality.
LaTonya Earl, 50, the choir director at The Church at Bethel’s Family in southwest Houston, and another driver died when their cars collided after a cement mixer lost its load outside its northeast Houston business, creating a slick road.
“She’s gonna be remembered for an extremely long time because of her legacy impact,” said Walter August, pastor at The Church at Bethel’s Family. “She was a musician as early as 8 years old, singing songs, leading choirs, writing music, producing music, singing with some of the best songwriters and singers in our city.”
He also said she achieved numerous awards in the Baptist music world. “Her legacy will be felt for generations to come,” he said.
The cement spilled about 6 a.m. just outside the Lattimore Materials Company along Old Humble Road near Bender Road. The driver of a red Toyota Corolla traveling north on Old Humble Road hit the cement, then lost control of his vehicle, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. That driver was identified Friday afternoon as 19-year-old Selvin Maldonado Palacios.
The driver then went over the median and crossed onto the southbound lanes, colliding head-on with Earl’s white Nissan Rogue. Both drivers were killed. No other people were in the vehicles.
Earl, an independent gospel artist, received several musical accolades including Rhythm of Gospel Awards and Texas Gospel Music Excellence Awards.
Aside from that recognition, August said that Earl had a personality of caring for everything and caring for everybody.
“She really strived to go out of her way to be a blessing to people, even sometimes at her own expense,” he said. “She has an anointed spirit of love, peace, joy. And, she definitely was family, she loved her family.”
“Pray for the Earl family, that whole entire family,” August said in a Facebook Live video addressing his church. “Dr. Earl is known everywhere.”
“She will be greatly missed and forever cherished,” he added in the post.
The driver of the cement mixer was cooperating with investigators, officials said.