ANGLETON, TX (07/18/2016) — Two people, Betty and Bobby McKnight, were killed in a wrong way accident on Monday afternoon.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), 66-year-old Betty McKnight and 68-year-old Bobby McKnight died following a two-vehicle accident that occurred on FM 523 in Angleton, Texas.
DPS Trooper Stephen Woodard stated that shortly before 1:00 p.m., the 27-year-old male driver of a 1992 Dodge Dakota was traveling northbound on FM 523 when he hydroplaned and struck a southbound 2001 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Betty McKnight.
The McKnight’s were taken to UTMB Health Angleton Danbury Campus, where they later died.
Woodard reported that the driver of the Dakota will be cited for failure to control speed. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision and was ejected from the vehicle. He was taken to UTMB Galveston for treatment.
Commentary
From the DPS report, road conditions were rainy at the time of the crash. DPS Trooper Stephen Woodard said that while the at-fault driver was traveling at the posted speed limit (60 mph), his speed was too fast for the slick road conditions. “When an individual is driving in inclement weather, it’s the driver’s responsibility to drive a safe speed,” said Woodard.
The posted speed limit applies only to perfect driving conditions. When conditions are not optimal, it is the driver’s legal responsibility to slow down to a reasonable standard. Failure to do so can increase the likelihood of an accident, and can even open the driver up to potential car accident injury or wrongful death lawsuits.
