Unbuckled Passenger Killed in Knox Co. Crash

KNOX CITY – A male passenger was killed and three others were injured in a two vehicle crash at an intersection Thursday in Benjamin in Knox County north of Abilene.  

According to information released from Texas Dept. of Public Safety Trooper Marc Couch, the man was not wearing a seatbelt in the front passenger seat of a 2007 Chevrolet Uplander minivan that was traveling east on US82 at the intersection of SH6 in Benjamin, TX just before 5 p.m. Wednesday.

At the same time a 2020 Toyota Sienna minivan was northbound on SH6.  The driver of the Toyota failed to yield at the stop sign and crashed into the Chevy causing it to roll several times. 32-year-old Llie Mihaita of Marvell Arkansas was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced deceased at the scene.  

Three other individuals were injured in the crash as well.  

The driver of the Chevy was airlifted to a Wichita Falls Hospital with serious injuries.  The driver of the Toyota was treated and released.  A passenger in the Toyota was transported by ambulance to Hendrick Hospital in Abilene with serious injuries.  That passenger was not wearing a seatbelt.