Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Truck Wreck Near Gainesville Kills Bedford Couple

Bedford couple among dead in crash on I-35 near Texas-Oklahoma border

GAINESVILLE — Three people including a Bedford couple were killed Monday after a tractor-trailer slammed into backed-up traffic on Interstate 35 near the Texas-Oklahoma border, authorities said.

The crash, which occurred around noon Monday about two miles southwest of Gainesville and about 13 miles south of the border, happened on a section of I-35 where two lanes narrow into one because of maintenance work on a bridge.

The wreck left the northbound lanes of the heavily traveled highway closed most of the afternoon.

The Texas Department of Public Safety identified the crash victims as Anthony and Kimberly Brandon of Bedford and Darryl Hoosier, 55, of Lafayette, La.

Trooper Mark Tackett said an 18-wheeler driven by James Crayton, 59, of Dallas apparently never slowed before slamming into the rear car of the jam.

That car, driven by Anthony Brandon with wife, Kimberly, as passenger, exploded on impact.
Anthony and Kimberly Brandon had three daughters and were members of Harwood Terrace Baptist Church in Bedford.

Tackett said the truck then slammed into another car, injuring Carol Whaley, 63, and his wife, Linda Whaley, 61, of Yalaha, Fla. Tackett said the 18-wheeler then rammed the car driven by Hoosier into the rear of another 18-wheeler, killing him. The driver of the second truck was not injured. Tackett said Crayton was taken to a Gainesville hospital for blood testing and questioning. No charges were filed.