Audra Rose Chambers was a nurse at the local Medina Regional Hospital, where she touched so many lives. She sadly lost her life in the heart-breaking car accident right outside of Castroville this past Saturday.
It was a heart-breaking scene this past Saturday, October 20 as first responders in Medina County rushed to the fatal accident in which a young mother, 21-year old Audra Rose Chambers, and a 41-year old Corpus man, Robert Anthony Taylor, lost their lives. Two passengers in Chambers’ vehicle, including a friend and a cousin, were also seriously injured. One was airlifted while the other was rushed from the scene by ambulance.
According to DPS, for reasons unknown, Mr. Taylor was traveling the wrong way on Hwy 90, crashing into Ms. Chambers’ vehicle head-on, taking the lives of both drivers. Both of the passengers are in stable condition at press time according to a family member.
The terrible head-on collision occurred on Hwy 90 about a half mile outside of town, between Castroville and Hondo near Chandler’s Automotive around 12:40 midnight.
Audra was a nurse at the local Medina Regional Hospital, and was loved by all her co-workers and friends there.
“The community lost a very special young lady,” said fellow nurse Paula McBeth, along with the ‘nursing family’ at Medina Regional. “Audra Rose Chambers has been part of my life for a very long time. I was the delivery nurse when she was born, such a beautiful baby girl. She started working at the hospital in Hondo about three years ago, probably the youngest CNA ever…Audra followed her heart and her dreams. She became an LVN and was working on getting her RN. She wanted to be a Labor and Delivery nurse. She was excellent with our mothers and babies as she was also with her own daughter.”
Castroville Fire Chief Rick Lair was at a loss for words as he recalled the tragic scene, noting this was one of the hardest calls he’s ever been on.
“The first thing I saw was a car seat laying in the median. The young woman who lost her life leaves behind a young child,” Lair said. “I ran to the Chevy and saw that the male driver was deceased, and then ran to the Nissan. We began communicating with two passengers who were trapped inside the Nissan–one in the front and one in the backseat. My daughter, who is also a firefighter, climbed into the backseat as we extricated the backseat passenger. Then we extricated the passenger in the front seat. The truck was so mangled we couldn’t reach the young lady who was driving until we removed the door. Upon extrication, we found that the driver of the Nissan was also deceased.”
“The three ladies were coming home from a movie in San Antonio when the accident happened. They were probably talking and having a good time and just didn’t see the other truck coming. He was from out of town, and I believe he just wasn’t familiar with the area, and it appears he turned onto Hwy 90 from a little side road, going the wrong way. I think this was just a pure accident.”
“We did three extrications within a matter of 15 minutes, cutting off four doors and removing the posts of the vehicles. I want to thank all of the first responders, deputies, and EMS crews because everyone came together and worked together flawlessly to help. It was very intense. It took us almost an hour to extricate the driver of the other vehicle. The vehicles collided directly head-on, at full speed. The two girls who survived this accident, survived by a miracle.”
“The DPS report states, “A 2013 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Robert Anthony Taylor, 41, of Corpus Christi was traveling the wrong way on US 90 West. For reasons not yet known, Mr. Taylor was driving his truck eastbound in the westbound inside lane. A 2015 Nissan Titan driven by Audra Rose Chambers, 21, of Hondo was traveling west in the inside lane of US 90 West. Because he was driving in the wrong direction, Mr. Taylor crashed into Ms. Chambers head-on. Both Mr. Taylor and Ms. Chambers were pronounced dead at the scene.
“Ms. Chambers was transporting two passengers, 20-year-old passenger from Hondo, and 16-year-old passenger from Baytown.
“One passenger was transported by EMS to University Hospital in serious condition while the second passenger was transported to University Hospital by helicopter in critical condition. The investigation is ongoing, and all contributing factors are currently unknown. The Texas Department of Public Safety would like to remind all drivers to minimize distractions, don’t drive fatigued, don’t drink and drive, obey traffic control devices and always wear your safety belt.”
Audra touched many lives with her passion for nursing
A friend and fellow nurse, who attended nursing school with Chambers, Tori Renee Jimenez commented, “Audra was a beautiful person inside and out. She was strong and independent and she was an amazing mother. Audra faced lots of trials but she never let it define her as a person. She faced the trials with a smile on her face and she made a beautiful life for her and for Kara. She was an amazing nurse and a phenomenal mother and at the end of the day I’m confident God gained a beautiful angel and she’s wearing a beautiful crown, one that she has deserved for a long time. I think we can all rest in the fact that she is in a better place and that Kara will always have an angel watching over her.”
A family member, Sherri Devers-Ytuarte stated, “Audra leaves behind a beautiful little girl Kara who is 3 years old. She worked hard for her baby girl as a nurse at Medina Regional Hospital. Everyone that came into contact with her, was drawn to her beautiful personality. She was loved by all. She will be greatly missed by family, friends and coworkers.”
Just a couple days before the accident, Chambers posted a beautiful poster online, with a picture of snowflakes glistening in the sunlight along with the words “If God put so much detail in a snowflake, what makes you think your life is any less important?”
It’s clear in correspondence with family and friends that Audra Rose Chambers made an important impact on this world in her short 21 years on earth, touching many lives through her love for nursing.
Our sincere condolences and prayers go out to all of the families affected by this tragic accident.
