The man pleaded guilty to a fatal head-on collision that occurred as he tried to pass a long line of traffic at high speeds in Boerne.
BOERNE, Texas — A 60-year-old man has pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter in connection to a 2024 head-on collision that killed a family of three, authorities said.
On Friday, Carl Sidney Galm was sentenced to 18 years in prison under a plea agreement supported by the victims’ surviving relatives. He also was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
Manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison under Texas law. Because the sentences must run concurrently, the 18-year term represents a near-maximum penalty. Galm, who had no prior criminal history, must serve at least nine years before becoming eligible for parole.
The charges stem from a crash on Oct. 29, 2024, along State Highway 46 West. Authorities said a Flock camera recorded Galm’s Ford F-250 leaving Boerne at 7:36 p.m. and traveling west. The collision occurred about nine minutes later, roughly 6.3 miles away.
According to an investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety Crash Reconstruction Team, Galm attempted to pass a line of traffic trailing a commercial 18-wheeler. Witnesses told investigators that he crossed a double yellow line and tried to overtake multiple vehicles at once on an uphill curve in a no-passing zone.
Officials said Galm passed at least five vehicles and remained in the eastbound lane while attempting to pass the 18-wheeler when his truck collided head-on with a Toyota Corolla. Investigators determined Galm was traveling about 93 mph five seconds before the crash.
The Corolla was driven by Roger Louis Waid, who was traveling with his wife, Patricia Ann Waid, and their teenage daughter, Blake Lynn Waid. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses and first responders attempted to free the family from the vehicle, authorities said. Galm was taken to a hospital with minor injuries and a blood test showed no drugs or alcohol in his system.
Prosecutors said the plea agreement reflects the severity of the risks involved in the crash and the resulting loss of life. The Kendall County District Attorney’s Office said it remains committed to holding drivers accountable for dangerous behavior on public roadways.