Tragic series of accidents claims several lives, including a man from Three Rivers | The Progress

A series of tragic accidents in South Texas have left several people dead and others injured. Local authorities are currently investigating.

On July 25 at approximately 2:36 a.m., a 2011 Dodge Dakota was traveling north on U.S. Highway 281, three miles northeast of George West, when it lost its lane and entered the median. The vehicle, driven by 42-year-old Orlando Palacios of Three Rivers, jumped the overpass and rolled several times on the grassy median.

Palacios, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle. He was flown by Haloflight aircraft to Spohn Shoreline Hospital in critical condition, but succumbed to his injuries at 4:20 a.m.

Later that day, at approximately 12:17 p.m., a fatal crash occurred at the intersection of US Highway 59 and FM 624 involving a DPS trooper traveling south near the Live Oak-McMullen County line.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a 2014 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck pulling a 2020 farm trailer loaded with goats was traveling eastbound on FM 624. The Dodge Ram was unable to come to a complete stop at the stop sign and entered the intersection where it was struck on the passenger side by a 2020 Peterbilt tractor-trailer pulling a 2019 Mac flatbed trailer traveling northbound on US Highway 59. The force of the impact caused both vehicles to veer northeast off the roadway, strike a stop sign, and break through a chain link fence. The Dodge Ram overturned onto its driver’s side.

Tragically, both occupants of the Dodge Ram, a 43-year-old driver and a 23-year-old passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Peterbilt, 63-year-old Mitchell Chapman of Spearfish, South Dakota, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Shoreline Hospital.

Another fatal crash occurred in Bee County on July 19 at approximately 12:50 p.m. when DPS was notified of a single-vehicle rollover on northbound US 181 south of Papalote. A 2016 Honda Civic, driven by 68-year-old Michael Fletcher of Beeville, left the roadway and landed on the right shoulder. Fletcher lost control, causing the vehicle to roll over several times.

Fletcher, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered serious injuries and was flown by Haloflight to Spohn Shoreline Hospital in Corpus Christi. Despite receiving medical treatment, Fletcher succumbed to his injuries at approximately 4:15 p.m. on July 22.

The accidents are currently being investigated by Beeville Highway Patrol officers. Authorities are urging all drivers to obey traffic laws and wear seat belts to prevent further tragedies.

Information for this article was contributed by the Texas Department of Public Safety.