Fatal Crash After Driver Fails to Stop in Callahan County

BAIRD, TX – A two-vehicle crash on State Highway 36 and U.S. Highway 283, resulted in one fatality and one serious injury Friday afternoon.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, this happened 12 miles south of Baird, at around 3:30 p.m.

Baird is about 20 miles east of Abilene. 

The crash happened when a Kia Optima, driven by Wylie Howard Parker III, 21, of Troy, Ohio, collided with an F-150 pickup truck driven by James William Apple, 82, of Cross Plains, Texas. 

Preliminary investigation indicated that Parker, traveling north on US 283, failed to stop at a stop sign and did not yield the right of way to Apple, who was traveling east on SH 36. The Ford F-150 struck the Kia on the driver's side.

Parker was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Tom Rumfield. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Apple, who was also wearing a seatbelt, sustained critical injuries and was transported by air to Hendrick Medical Center.

The road conditions were dry, and the weather was clear at the time of the accident, according to DPS. 

The Texas Highway Patrol in Baird and the Callahan County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crash.