An afternoon drive on a rural stretch of FM 787 turned deadly Monday when a 53-year-old man from Clark, Texas, was killed in a head-on collision east of Cleveland, temporarily shutting down the two-lane highway while first responders worked the scene.
According to Bluebonnet News, Sgt. Rob Willoughby with the Texas Department of Public Safety said the crash happened around 3:45 p.m. on FM 787, about a mile east of FM 223. Preliminary information indicates a westbound 2019 Nissan Versa crossed the center stripe and struck an eastbound 2018 Ford F-350 front-left to front-left.
The Ford F-350, a dually equipped with a ranch bumper, was driven by Cleveland resident Liz Kidd Kirkham, who was traveling with her 5-year-old twins, according to the outlet. Willoughby said the Kirkham family were not seriously injured but were medically evaluated as a precaution, and that FM 787 was closed for a couple of hours while crews cleared the wreckage.
Investigation Underway
Trooper Natalie Aguirre is leading the investigation, with assistance from Sgt. Rob Willoughby and Trooper Courtland Friend. The driver of the Nissan was pronounced dead at the scene by Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Wade Brown, who ordered an autopsy, according to Bluebonnet News.
Why Head-On Crashes Are Often Deadly
Head-on collisions generate enormous closing speeds and are disproportionately lethal, even though they account for only a small share of all crashes. National data shows head-on crashes made up roughly 10% of fatal crashes. Rural two-lane roads, where passing, lane departures and higher speeds are common, are a frequent setting for this type of collision, according to NHTSA.
