One Driver Killed in Mitchell County Crash

The driver of a Ford F-350 traveling on State Highway 208 lost his life after a roll over accident Wednesday morning, said a Department of Public Safety press release Friday.

According to the release, Michael Wayne Bearden, 56, of Lorena, Texas was traveling south on SH 208, about 4 miles north of Colorado City, when he veered off the road and entered the west barrow ditch. Bearden, who was towing an International Semi-Trailer, continued traveling south for approximately 75 yards. When he attempted to bring his truck and trailer back upon the roadway, the pickup and trailer entered into a side skid. At that point, the semi-trailer rolled over onto its right side and slid across both lanes of the roadway and into the east barrow ditch.

“The pickup came to its final rest laying on its roof, and the trailer came to its final rest laying on its right side,” DPS stated.

Bearden was pronounced dead at the scene, and officials transported his body to Kiker-Seale Funeral Home in Colorado City.

Trooper Nathan Sanford with DPS Snyder investigated at the scene, and noted that the weather conditions were dry and both clear and cloudy. Additionally, Bearden did have his seatbelt on when the accident occurred.