Maxwell man killed in rural crash Nov. 23

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

A Maxwell man was killed last Tuesday in a motorcycle accident in rural Caldwell County.

Francisco “Frankie” Rodriguez, 23, was riding a Yamaha motorcycle eastbound on FM 1966 between Maxwell and Reedville on the evening of Nov. 23 when he collided with a Honda sedan turning left into a driveway on FM 1966, near the intersection

of FM 1984.

Although he was wearing a helmet and most likely traveling at a safe speed, according to Texas Highway Patrol Sgt. Darrell Jirrall, Rodriguez “laid the motorcycle down on its side,” and made a physical impact with the vehicle.

The driver of the Honda, it appeared, may have been turning into his own home, as his drivers’ license shows an address on FM 1966.

Jirrall said he had no reason to believe that either alcohol or excessive speed on the part of either driver was a factor in the collision. He did say, however, that the terrain of the road in that area may have caused the driver of the Honda to “lose sight of [Rodriguez] for a moment.”

He referred questions about charges pending against the other driver, who was not injured in the wreck, to Caldwell County District Attorney Trey Hicks.

On Wednesday morning, Hicks could not comment as to whether charges would be brought against the other driver.

Rodriguez, a lifelong resident of Caldwell County and a Lockhart High School graduate, will be remembered by his family and friends as an avid fisherman and a kind soul who always had “a smile on his face and bounce in his step,” according to Clint Mohle, who worked with Rodriguez at Glosserman’s.

Services for Rodriguez were held on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010, at St. Mary’s.

He is survived by his wife, Vanessa, his parents, Joe Phillip and Alma Rodriguez, his brother and sister, and a host of extended family and friends.

Editor’s note: Because neither DPS nor the Caldwell County District Attorney could confirm whether charges would be brought against the driver of the 2004 Honda passenger vehicle, the identity of the driver is being withheld. -kb