Driver Dies in Rural Head on Crash

ABILENE, Texas – One driver is dead following a head on crash southwest of Abilene in Taylor County Thursday afternoon. 

According to information released Friday from Texas Dept. of Public Safety Trooper Marc Couch, Richard Walker, 55, of Abilene was driving a 2015 Kia Soul passenger car southbound on FM-707 approaching the intersection of CR-314 about 2.7 miles southwest of Abilene.  

At the same time, Kenneth Oneal, 79, of Abilene was northbound on FM-707 in a 2002 Ford SUV approaching the same intersection.  

The DPS investigation shows Oneal's SUV failed to yield the right of way and turned into the path of Walker's Kia crashing into it head on. Walker was not wearing a seatbelt and was transported to Hendrick Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.  Walker's passenger, 40-year-old Cheyarle Lopez, was seriously injured in the crash. 

Oneal was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.