DPS Solves Mysterious F-150 Crash in Wall on U.S. 87

Last night at 9:30 p.m., Frank Deloria was out distributing this week’s edition of American Classifieds in his gold 2003 Ford F-150 pickup. Bundles of new papers were packed in the bed of the truck as he made his rounds to the various points of distribution for the free paper.

He was headed south on state Loop 570 in Wall attempting to cross the four-lane U.S. 87 highway.  That’s when a red 2007 Kenworth semi truck pulling a sand trailer headed north and Deloria crossed paths, according to DPS.

Deloria pulled out into U.S. 87 in front of the semi-truck. The semi driver attempted to avoid the F-150 by veering left across the inside lane and briefly into the center median grass. The semi truck averted disaster with the maneuver, but did not prevent the F-150 from crashing into the semi’s trailer’s rear axle area causing very minor damage to the trailer.

The F-150 spun 90 degrees counter-clockwise, coming to a rest facing south in the shoulder of the inside northbound lane. Copies of this week’s American Classifieds paper were scattered everywhere.

The front of the F-150 was demolished.

At the accident scene, as first responders first arrived, it was unclear to all what or where the other vehicle in the crash was.

DPS officers were perplexed as well, and initially were calling the crash a felony hit-and-run with failure to render aid.

Meanwhile a red Kenworth truck was pulled over further north, just off the highway. The driver said that he had maneuvered to miss the F-150, and thought that he had. It was dark and impossible to be certain, and DPS said that the driver stated that he wasn’t sure the vehicle in the center median shoulder was already there before he passed by. To whit, there was no paint transfer anywhere on the semi or trailer, and the area later determined to be the point of impact, at the rear wheel axles, may have been previously damaged.

According to DPS Trooper Shawn Baxter, DPS determined through their crash scene investigation that the Kenworth’s trailer was the impact area. The truck driver, Christopher Dominguez of Odessa was not charged with hit-and-run. In fact, the Kenworth driver was not cited for anything.

The F-150 driver, however, was charged with failure to yield the right-of-way to the semi at a stop sign.

The F-150 driver was treated for minor injuries. No one else was hurt.

DPS Trooper Diaz was the investigating officer. Tom Green County Sheriff’s Deputies, the Wall Volunteer Fire Dept., and San Angelo’s Medic 10 EMS crew also tended the scene.