Wrongful Death

Wintry Texas Conditions Leave More than Six Dead in a 100-Vehicle Crash

Published on: February 18, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

Because Texas is such a large state, some areas receive more wintry conditions than others during the winter months. As a result, many drivers do not know how to drive on icy or slippery roads, which can result in devastating Texas car accidents. To stay safe this winter season, it is crucial that you drive with care if you must travel, and to limit travel as much as possible when temperatures are particularly low and the weather is icy.

According to a local news report, six people were killed in a major car accident that involved more than 100 vehicles after a rush of winter weather that swept across Texas. Following the accident, multiple people were trapped in their vehicles, and more than 36 people were taken to local hospitals for further treatment and several were in critical condition at the scene. Videos and photos from other news outlets showed a massive crash involving multiple cars, eighteen-wheeler trucks, tractor-trailers, and local firefighters responding to the scene. Vehicles were piled on top of each other, rolled on their sides, or spun out along the sides of the road. Due to significant amounts of winter weather rolling across the state, local authorities are asking drivers to proceed with caution, especially since the roads are especially slick and icy.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (DOT), several easy driving tips can ensure a safer, smoother, less stressful trip when traveling in unpredictable winter weather.

Filing a Wrongful Death Claim After a Texas Wrong Way Car Accident

Published on: February 11, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

In the United States, wrong-way accidents can kill hundreds of people every year. These accidents can be particularly deadly when compared to other types of collisions, and account for as many as 54 percent of traffic accident-related deaths in previous years. In the event of one of these devastating accidents, if someone you love is killed because of the neglect and carelessness of another driver, you may have grounds for a personal injury or wrongful death suit for monetary damages.

According to a local news report, two San Antonio residents and four others were killed after a wrong-way accident. Evidently, two vehicles crashed into each other head-on, resulting in one driver being pronounced dead on the scene and his passenger succumbing to her injuries after being transported to a local hospital for treatment. The other victims who died were between 18 and 24 years old, and three other unidentified passengers were taken to the hospital for medical care. Following the accident, local authorities are still investigating the accident’s details.

In Texas, you may be eligible for filing a wrongful death claim on behalf of a loved one if that individual died due to a wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, or unskillfulness from the at-fault party. Car accidents that result in a wrongful death are a common claim in Texas, but not everyone is eligible to bring a claim on behalf of the deceased. If you decide to file a wrongful death lawsuit, you must either be the deceased’s surviving spouse, child, or parent. Children who are legally adopted, surviving adoptive parents, and personal representatives of the deceased’s estate can also file a wrongful death claim.

ACCIDENT REPORT: Interstate-35E Crash Near Milford Left 2 Family Members Dead, 2 Injured

Published on: December 22, 2020 | by Carabin Shaw

December 22, 2020: ELLIS COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) — Two family members were killed, and two others were injured after a tragic December 14 crash involving a passenger van and a semi tractor-trailer.

Officials with the Milford Police Department confirm two people in the van died and two others were injured — one serious, one minor — in the afternoon crash on Interstate-35E in south Ellis County.

It was around 5:30 p.m. when police were called out on a “two vehicle major accident”. Once there officials said they quickly realized they needed help and called in more than half-dozen agencies — including DPS, Italy Police and Fire, and Ellis County Sheriff’s deputies.

ACCIDENT REPORT: Universal City Woman Dies in I-35 Crash

Published on: December 17, 2020 | by Carabin Shaw

December 17, 2020: A Universal City woman died on Interstate 35 on Saturday night December 12th after an SUV crashed into her parked car, sending her into incoming traffic, according to officials.

Karla Barraza, 21, was standing in front of her Volkswagen Jetta, which was disabled in the 21500 block of the southbound side of the highway in Schertz, when a Nissan Rogue crashed into it around 10:51 p.m., Schertz police said in a statement.

The collision threw her into a northbound lane, where she was hit by a passing car, according to the statement.

ACCIDENT REPORT: Two Killed in East Texas Car Crash

Published on: December 15, 2020 | by Carabin Shaw

pexels-pixabay-263402-300x199 December 15, 2020: POLK COUNTY, Livingston,Texas — Two people are dead following a crash last week in the early morning of December 8th in Deep East Texas.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, troopers responded to a two-vehicle major crash around 6:50 a.m., on US 190, about five miles east of Livingston.

The preliminary crash investigation indicates an SUV was traveling east on US 190, while the driver of a car was traveling westbound and reportedly attempted to pass another vehicle in a no passing zone and struck the SUV head-on.

Accident Injury Report: Distracted Semi Driver Kills Woman on I-35 in Oklahoma

Published on: November 11, 2020 | by Carabin Shaw

Nov. 11, 2020, McCLAIN COUNTY, Oklahoma: Investigators said a truck driver was driving distracted on Interstate 35 where he killed a woman and injured her husband. Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers responded to the crash on March 2, 2020, near mile marker 82 in McClain County.

A semi-truck driven by 58-year-old Johnny Spradlin was surrounded by other vehicles approaching a construction zone.

Investigators said surrounding vehicles slowed down, but the 18-wheeler driver Spradlin did not. He crashed into a 2016 Chevy Traverse driven by 63-year-old Julia Kraus and her passenger husband around 9:30 a.m. Kraus was pronounced dead at the scene. Kraus’ husband was injured in the crash but survived.

ACCIDENT INJURY REPORT: Houston Woman Dies in Laredo Crash Identified

Published on: October 13, 2020 | by Carabin Shaw

Saturday, October 10, 2020: Laredo, TEXAS: Laredo police have identified the woman who died on Thursday, October 8th, in a two-vehicle crash by Texas 255 and Mines Road.

Authorities identified her as Sara Cruz, a 47-year-old woman from Houston. Cruz was in a Ford F-150 driven by Jose Juan Perez, 50, who is also from Houston.

Perez disregarded a stop sign at Texas 255 and FM 1472 and crashed into a Ford Raptor driven by Jaime Gutierrez, 27.

ACCIDENT INJURY REPORT: DPS Investigating Deadly 2-vehicle Crash on Highway 84, Southeast of Lubbock

Published on: October 6, 2020 | by Carabin Shaw

Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020: LUBBOCK, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety released updated details Thursday evening on a deadly crash that happened just after 1:00 p.m. Emergency crews responded to the crash along Highway 84 near County Road 7500 near the City of Slaton.

DPS reported a pickup truck with a trailer driven by Thomas Henry Erskine Jr, 18, of Templeton, California. The pickup truck was going southeast on Highway 84. DPS said a Tahoe driven by Berta Arispe, 59, of Colorado City was going northwest on the highway.

The pickup truck came upon a construction vehicle that was directing traffic over to the right lane for a construction company. The pickup truck, “took evasive action steering hard to the left to avoid other vehicles.”

ACCIDENT INJURY REPORT: Three Killed in Head-on Crash on SH 105 Near Tarkington

Published on: October 5, 2020 | by Carabin Shaw

October 5, 2020: The Texas Department of Public Safety has identified the victims of the September 27, 2020 head-on crash on SH 105 about a mile east of FM 2518 in Tarkington northeast of Houston.

Two of the deceased victims are from Houston while the third is from Hardin County. They are Francisco Rivera-Rosas, 33, of Houston, who was driving the black Chevrolet pickup that veered into the path of another black Chevrolet pickup driven by Timothy Gannon, 56, of Saratoga. Both drivers were killed as well as a backseat passenger in Rivera-Rosas’ vehicle – Juan Salgado, age unknown.

Two other passengers were traveling in Rivera-Rosas’ vehicle – his 15-year-old son, who was uninjured, and 43-year-old Juan Salgado-Alvarez, 43, of Houston, who was seriously injured. Gannon’s wife, Kimberly Gannon, 57, also suffered serious injuries.

ACCIDENT INJURY REPORT – Two Killed in Rideshare Car in Houston

Published on: September 22, 2020 | by Carabin Shaw

Monday, September 21, 2020: HOUSTON – Two women riding in the back of an Uber are dead after police said a pursuit suspect crashed into the car they were in. Police said the driver they believe is responsible is now facing felony murder charges.

Officers said the crash happened at the intersection of Jensen and Parker around 11:30 Saturday night. According to police, they were chasing a vehicle after a driver, identified as 45-year-old Brian Okeith Tatum, reportedly ran a red light. He was estimated to be driving more than 100 mph.

Houston police say it started when Harris County deputies tried to stop a driver for running a red light. The driver didn’t stop, but instead took off at a high rate of speed and slammed into the rideshare car.