Andrew Starr Killed in Fisher County Car Accident
Passenger dies after pickup truck fails to yield right of way at rural intersection
Andrew Starr, 39, of Hamilton, was killed in a two-vehicle crash at the corner of U.S. Highway 180 and Farm to Market Road 611 in Fisher County on Wednesday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The state agency's preliminary investigation indicates the crash occurred at 4:17 p.m. An eastbound 2015 Dodge Ram 3500 failed to yield the right of way. The pickup turned left directly into the path of an oncoming 2024 Ford F-150. The impact killed Starr, a passenger of the Dodge. The 80-year-old driver of that vehicle also died at the scene. Paramedics took the 38-year-old driver of the Ford to Fisher County Hospital with minor injuries.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the state recorded 4,150 traffic death last year.
The crash remains under investigation.
Why did the pickup fail to yield on U.S. Highway 180?
Investigators are working to determine why the driver turned into oncoming traffic. In intersection accidents such as this, crash reconstructionists examine sightlines, vehicle speeds, and driver distraction.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "When drivers fail to yield at intersections, devastating collisions often result from misjudgments about vehicle speed and safe stopping distance."
"Following catastrophic incidents, legal counsel plays an essential role in securing video evidence and preserving electronic vehicle data that may reveal critical information about collision dynamics and responsibility," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
How common are fatal intersection crashes in Texas?
Rural intersections present unique hazards due to high approach speeds and limited traffic controls. Texas Department of Transportation data shows that failure to yield the right of way remains one of the leading causes of fatal collisions statewide.
Texas wrongful death statute
Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.001, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Texas applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship and consortium, funeral expenses, and mental anguish.
"Drivers who fail to yield at busy intersections often cause broadside collisions that lead to severe injuries and massive vehicle damage for unsuspecting travelers crossing through green lights," said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, noted, "Serving as an advocate, an attorney works quickly to secure traffic camera footage, interview witnesses, and guide grieving relatives through insurance paperwork."