A Valley Center High School teacher is fighting for survival after suffering life-threatening injuries in an Austin, Texas, crash that killed his wife and son.

Scott Latulippe, 41, is in critical condition at Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas in Austin, after an allegedly drunken driver struck his family’s car Saturday. His wife Nancy, 38, and son Jackson, 14, died in the collision, according to the the Austin Police Department.

Scott Latulippe sustained severe head injuries and underwent emergency surgery following the collision.

“We’re hanging out in the ICU and Scott’s condition is very, very critical,” said his brother, Tim Latulippe. “And we don’t know if he’s going to make it or not. His brain has been damaged severely, and it’s just a waiting game right now.”


The couple’s 10-year-old daughter, Kiera, suffered only minor bruising from the seatbelt and has been released from the hospital.

“She got to visit her dad in the hospital,” Tim Latulippe said. “As traumatic as that was for a 10-year-old girl, she’s a spot of sunshine for us at the moment.”

The family has received an outpouring of support from both North County and the Austin community, he said. Pala Vista Gas Station in Valley Center is donating $2 for every pizza sold to the family, he said, and the nonprofit Valley Center Community Aid Group is collecting donations by check or Paypal.

“We are saddened to hear of the horrific accident involving the Latulippe family,” the organization stated on its Facebook page. “Donations will be accepted on their behalf and all money will be given to them with no costs.”


The Austin community also lent a hand, bringing gifts for Kiera and covering travel and lodging expenses for Tim and other family members who traveled from San Diego after the accident.

“The people here in Texas are incredible,” Tim Latulippe said. “Law enforcement donated an iPad to Kiera once they found out that hers was destroyed in the crash. They brought in stuffed animals and cutesy little girl stuff for her in the hospital.”

The collision took place at 3:30 p.m. Saturday when 41-year-old Guy Brasted lost control of his vehicle while driving northbound on Research Road in Austin. He crossed a median into the southbound lane, striking the Latulippe family’s Fiat head-on, according to a police report on the incident.

Brasted was taken to Dell Seton Hospital, where a blood draw showed a blood alcohol level of .203 — more than two and a half times the legal limit of .08, according to an Austin Police department report. Brasted was in jail Tuesday on two charges of intoxication manslaughter and one of intoxication assault, and faces $200,000 bail, according to court records.


The family had lived in Valley Center for three and a half years with their children, and enjoyed outdoor life, including off-roading, camping and baseball. Nancy Latulippe worked in claims at Geico Insurance in Poway, he said, and was moving up in the business. Jackson LaTulippe was involved in Boy Scouts, and working toward the rank of Eagle.

Scott Latulippe teaches media production and driver’s education at Valley Center High School, and previously worked as an automotive technology teacher at the campus, and as an admissions representative for Universal Technical Institute.

“He’s a radically awesome person who would serve and give and help,” Tim Latulippe said. “He’s highly looked up to, and loved life in all it’s glory….We keep seeing that the community loves him, too. We’re seeing that more than we could ever have thought.”

Donations can be made by check, payable to VCCAG, and designated to the Latulippe family, at VCCAG, P.O. Box 962 Valley Center, CA 92082. They can also be sent by Paypal, at the group’s website, https://www.vcrealestatepros.com



deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan