Fatal Elgin/Bastrop/Austin Area Accident
2009 July 30
A terrible accident occurred in Bastrop County, Texas that has led to the tragic deaths of two people. The Blotter portion of the Austin-American Statesman posted this:
Two men were killed about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday after a tire on a UPS truck blew out on Texas 95 about four miles south of Elgin, said Tela Mange, a spokeswoman with the Texas Department of Public Safety. A preliminary investigation shows that George Center, 37 of Austin, was driving the UPS truck south on the highway and 52-year-old Larry Goodwill, of Bastrop, was driving a 2001 International sewage truck north, she said. The UPS truck’s front passenger-side tire blew out, Mange said, causing the truck to enter into the lane where Goodwill was driving. The head-on collision killed both drivers at the scene, and it is not known whether or not they were wearing seat belts, she said. Mange said the collision happened at the 466 mile marker in Bastrop County.
The post calls the tire event a “blowout.” A blowout is typically defined as a sudden deflation of a tire. However, another tire event can occur that is sometimes confused with a blowout.
The hot summer months are when many tire delamination/detreads occur. Most people are familiar with these tire events from the Ford/Firestone debacle a few years ago. An article at Automedia.com gives a simple overview of this problem and how the heat of the summer contributes to the frequency of these problems.
If you suspect someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a tire incident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly. In tire defect cases, the importance of moving quickly to retrieve tread pieces, secure and preserve the tire and tread, take photographs and witness statements cannot be overstated.
