Midnight head-on crash takes life of Huntsville woman

By ELLIOTT COCHRANand HOWARD RODEN
Updated: 09.20.09

A Huntsville woman died early Saturday when a 2002 Chevy Blazer — traveling south in the northbound main lanes of Interstate 45 — struck the Toyota Avalon driven by her husband.

The head-on collision occurred at 12:09 a.m. Saturday south of Rayford Road, Department of Public Safety Trooper Daniel Pena said. Jan Bennett, 46, was pronounced dead at the scene by Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Lanny Moriarty.

Andres Canceco, 22, of Pinehurst, is in the Montgomery County Jail on charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault for the collision, said Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Warren Diepramm.

A cumulative bond of $150,000 was set on Canceco. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has a hold on Canceco, a county jail official said.

Canceco was transported to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital where — with the exception of several scrapes and bruises — he was reported in good condition.

Bennett’s husband, Robert Bennett, 48, and the driver of the Avalon, was transported to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital where he was reported in good condition. Robert Bennett broke his arm in the wreck, allowing the DA’s office to file intoxication assault charges against Canceco, Diepramm said.

Canceco was the only occupant in the Blazer, Pena said. All three were wearing seat belts.

Initially, Canceco was identified as Bulmaro Santos, but law enforcement officials later determined through fingerprint analysis that name was an alias, Diepramm said.

Diepramm said Canceco’s statements to investigators — which included an agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission — were somewhat incoherent due to the “extreme stateâ€