DEADLY CRASH – Eddie Durrett of Midland was killed Sunday night after his sport utilty vehicle was struck by an 18-wheel tank truck driven by David Talley of Alvord. Messenger photo by Joe Duty
A man was killed Sunday night when his sport utility vehicle was struck by an 18-wheel tank truck at the intersection of Farm Road 51 South and Texas 114.
Eddie Durrett, 57, of Midland was pronounced dead at the scene by Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace, Clay Poynor at 11:31 p.m. Poynor said blunt-force trauma was the cause of death.
The accident happened shortly after 10:30 p.m. Durrett was traveling northbound on FM 51 in his black Chevy Tahoe.
Department of Public Safety Trooper Mark Adams said he failed to yield the right of way, and the SUV was struck in the driver’s side by a Bridgeport Tank Truck driven by David Talley, 50, of Alvord.
“As the SUV came across the intersection, it was hit by the 18-wheeler,” Adams said. “Witnesses to the accident that were behind the 18-wheeler confirmed the information.”
Marks at the scene indicated that Talley attempted to brake.
Talley was transported by ambulance to Wise Regional Health System in Decatur. He had been discharged by Monday morning.
The accident occurred at an intersection where the Texas Department of Transportation is building a grade separation bridge, taking Texas 114 over FM 51.
I am sorry this person had to lose his life.
We were almost hit there mid day last week.
Those truck drivers are NOT driving the required 30 miles per hour!
Maybe DPS needs to set up and start radaring and TICKETING them. Fines double in work zones; maybe they’ll slow down.
I am very sorry he lost his life also. I think the 30 MPH speed limit is a suggested speed and not a mandatory speed. Plus the driver that got killed ran the stop sign. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like the trucking any more than anyone else. They will let anyone have a CDL and put them behind the wheel of a killing machine but the other drivers also have to abide by the laws.
it is a suggested speed not the speed limit. and why is it always assumed its the trucks fault? most drivers do there best to be safe and obide by the law. this is simple one bad apple makes us all us look bad. bad things happen to good people also.which is to say the driver is a good person as the victim is. this man dieing is a shame. however that driver will go thru hell the rest of his life with the death of this individual. i dont have the official numbers but i know that when a truck and car are involved in a accident the majority of the time its the cars fault. so maybe instead of being harder or drivers they should pay more attention to the folks driving cars. just for the record had the truck driver been going 30 mph the same result most likely wouldve been the same. theres no such thing as a small truck wreck.