DPS releases more info on fatal multi-vehicle accident in Hartley County
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating another fatal crash in the Texas Panhandle this week, with at least three dead as of Friday. According to the DPS, six vehicles were involved in the crash, which took place in a construction zone in Hartley County.
According to a news release issued by DPS on Saturday afternoon, at about 11:30 a.m. Friday, traffic was at a standstill due to road construction on southbound US 54, approximately six miles southwest of Dalhart. A 2023 Freightliner truck tractor semi-trailer was southbound and did not slow or stop for the stationary traffic ahead, causing a chain reaction crash.
The semi struck the rear of 2020 International truck tractor semi-trailer, which then rear-ended a 2018 Ford F-150. This caused the pickup truck to rear-end a 2019 Peterbilt truck tractor semi-trailer, which then rear-ended a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee. And this caused the SUV to rear end a 2023 Mack truck tractor semi-trailer.
The driver of the first semi, Donald Diebel Jr., 57, of El Paso, was pronounced dead at the scene by Hartley County Justice of the Peace Beth Moore. It was unknown if he was wearing a seat belt due to the extent of damage to the vehicle.
The driver of the second semi, Rasheed Wall, 27, of Carter Lake, Iowa, and a passenger, Akeem Hopkins, 29, of Carter Lake, Iowa were taken by ambulance to Coon Memorial Hospital in Dalhart with minor injuries.
The driver of the pickup, Marvin Wirtjes, 81, of Morris, Minnesota, and a passenger, Shirley Wirtjes, 79, of Morris, Minnesota, were pronounced dead at the scene by Moore.
The driver of the fourth vehicle, the 2019 semi, Joaquin Murrieta, 49, of Wilcox, Arizona, was not injured.
The driver of the Jeep, Michelle Miller, 58, of Dubuque, Iowa, and a passenger, James Miller, 59, of Dubuque, Iowa, were taken by ambulance to Coon Memorial Hospital in Dalhart with minor injuries.
The driver of the sixth vehicle, the 2023 Mack semi-trailer, Charles Dickens, 63, of Dickens, Tennessee, was not injured.
The posted speed limit was 65 mph, but was in a construction zone, and road conditions were dry and clear. The crash remains under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol Troopers.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: At least 3 killed in multi-vehicle accident in Hartley County
