Recent accidents claim four

A pair of head-on collisions north of Lockhart last week send shockwaves through communities

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

One of the most dangerous stretches of highway in the state claimed another victim last week, and a nearby road gathered three more as a pair of unrelated, head-on collisions killed three adults and one teen.

Just past m

idnight on Thursday, July 15, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) received a call about a head-on collision on Highway 183 near Evans Road in northern Caldwell County.

According to Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Darrell Jirrall, a 2004 Chevrolet coupe was traveling southbound when it crossed into oncoming traffic, striking a Freightliner truck hauling a trailer head on.

The driver of the Chevrolet, identified as Lawrence Hill, of Victoria, was killed in the crash, Jirrall said. The other driver, identified as Michael Johnson, of Converse, was treated for minor injuries and released by EMS.

On Tuesday, Jirrall was unable to provide details as to whether either alcohol or excessive speed were factors in the incident.

Three days later and a few miles north, two adults and one teen were killed, and a second teen seriously injured in a collision on FM 1327. At least one party in that accident was identified as being a Dale resident.

Shortly after 6 p.m., DPS spokespeople in Austin said, emergency services were called to the scene of a head-on crash west of Highway 183 on FM 1327. Arriving at the scene, first responders found a Ford Expedition had collided with a Nissan passenger vehicle.

Bryan Story, 31, of Austin, and Isobel Kincaid, 52, of Dale, were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Two teenagers, both passengers in the Nissan driven by Kincaid, were transported by emergency services to Dell Children’s Medical center. According to DPS, 18-year-old Shane Miller died at that hospital on Tuesday evening, as a result of head injuries sustained in the accident.

The second teen, a 13-year-old male, remains hospitalized at Dell, DPS said Wednesday morning.

DPS Public Relations staff could not provide information on Wednesday morning as to whether alcohol or excessive speed was a factor in the accident, nor could they speak to any familial relationship between Miller and Kincaid. A call to the trooper investigating the accident had not been returned at press time.

Both accidents are still under investigation by DPS officials.