2 basketball players killed in Texas truck accident

Two women died and two others were injured in a collision in Paris, Texas, on June 3. The victims, all between the ages of 19 and 21, were members of the Texas A&M-Commerce women’s basketball team. They were returning from coaching a high school basketball camp when they were involved in the collision that occurred at the intersection of Loop 286 and FM 1497, according to official reports. The driver of a tractor-trailer truck has been blamed for the fatal accident.

Authorities say the truck accident occurred when the tractor-trailer rig struck the rear passenger side of the women’s sedan. The smaller vehicle had been stopped at the intersection; it was struck just as it began to move forward past the stop sign. The vehicle was propelled into a grassy area alongside the road. Investigators do not believe that impairment or speed played a role in the collision, though police are still looking into the matter. So far, no criminal charges have been filed in connection with the accident.

The 21-year-old driver of the sedan and a 19-year-old front-seat passenger were seriously injured in the collision, and they were transported to nearby medical facilities. The two women in the backseat, ages 20 and 21, both died in the collision. Officials say that the intersection has been the site of four deadly accidents since 2000, and five people have died because of crashes there. The intersection features only stop signs and flashing lights, not a true traffic light.

Victims and their relatives may be entitled to financial compensation from the driver and that person’s employer because of the effects of the crash. The families who have suffered the loss of a loved one because of crashes with big rigs deserve financial damages for their experience. Further, victims who have been injured in collisions at dangerous intersections may be able to seek similar compensation from the municipality that oversees those traffic lights.

Source: CBS DFW, “2 Young Women Killed In Paris Car Crash” No author given, Jun. 04, 2014