Abilene Man Killed After Car Overturns, Strikes Tree on I-20

PUTNAM, TX — A 59-year-old Abilene man was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 20 on Saturday afternoon, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

It happened around 3:20 p.m. on Oct. 12, about 2 miles west of Putnam, Texas.

DPS officials said the driver, identified as Noel Melecio, was traveling westbound in a 1999 Acura TL when his vehicle veered left into the inside lane for unknown reasons, crossing over the rumble strip. 

The driver then overcorrected back towards the right, causing the vehicle to skid across both westbound lanes and off the north side of the roadway. As a result, the vehicle overturned and struck a tree with the top of the car.

Melecio was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. He was transported to Hendrick Medical Center North, where he was pronounced deceased just before 4:30 p.m. by Dr. Natalie Hibbs.

The weather and road conditions were clear and dry at the time of the crash. No other vehicles were involved.