Eric Fields Killed in Georgetown Truck Accident
Suspect charged with DWI after collision sends 18-wheeler off overpass
Eric Fields, 59, was killed in a two-vehicle crash at Chandler Road and State Highway 130 in Georgetown on June 29, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Rayford Washington, 38, was arrested and booked into the Williamson County Jail. He faces a state jail felony charge of driving while intoxicated with a child under 15.
The westbound Audi SUV attempted a left turn onto the southbound frontage road and collided with the eastbound tractor-trailer. The impact sent the 18-wheeler crashing through a bridge barrier, plunging off the overpass and landing on the main lanes below.
Fields, the truck driver, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the SUV and two children, ages 9 and 5, were taken to a hospital with possible injuries.
No other vehicles were involved. Troopers continue to investigate the fatal collision.
How will this investigation impact the Georgetown community?
The fatal collision has left the Georgetown community searching for answers as authorities pursue criminal charges against the impaired driver. In intersection accidents such as this, investigators careful review traffic signal timing and driver impairment levels.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Complex, high traffic intersections already demand quick judgment, and adding impairment into a left turn multiplies the danger dramatically, since reaction time and depth perception both suffer at once."
"When impairment is suspected after a catastrophic crash, legal teams often push swiftly for toxicology results and mechanical inspections to thoroughly confirm every possible contributing cause," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 712 people were killed in large truck crashes statewide in 2024. TxDOT also reported 1,053 alcohol-related traffic deaths and 1,050 fatalities in intersection-related crashes.
What happens next for the victim's family?
While the criminal justice system addresses the DWI charges, the family of Fields faces a complex path forward. Parallel civil claims often proceed alongside criminal prosecutions to ensure families receive full support.
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.
"Pursuing a wrongful death claim starts with gathering medical records and financial documentation establishing the scope of loss experienced by surviving relatives," according to Stefano Formica, a national legal analyst for Accident News and of counsel at Bond Legal.
"An attorney reviews every detail before filing, ensuring nothing gets overlooked during an overwhelming and emotionally difficult period."