Michael Little Killed in Auto Accident on Lloyd Ruby Overpass in Wichita Falls, TX
Wichita Falls, TX — July 24, 2022, 33-year-old Michael Little was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Lloyd Ruby Overpass in Wichita Falls.
According to reports the incident happened shortly before 6:00 p.m. Sunday on the 800 block of northbound Lloyd Ruby. Preliminary investigation and witness accounts say 36-year-old Bryan Hernandez was driving a Ford F-150 pickup truck recklessly and ran a red light at a nearby intersection. Hernandez then entered a ramp to the Lloyd Ruby Overpass and hit the center guardrail.
Little, a passenger riding in the bed of the pickup, was ejected and hit the guardrail. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
Investigators arrested Hernandez for manslaughter in connection to the crash.
The investigation continues. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Michael Little Accident in Wichita Falls
Clearly this is a tragic incident and my heart goes out to the victim's family. I can't imagine I'm alone in wondering exactly how and why this awful event went how it did, though. Why was the driver acting reckless as reports suggest? Was he just driving that way for thrills? Is it possible he was intoxicated? Or was the crash due to something beyond his control--a medical emergency, say, or a vehicle malfunction?
I'm not looking for ways to excuse what might really boil down to simple careless behavior, but at the same time I think it's too early to write the whole thing off that way and look no further. Proper investigation will account for other possibilities and will look at the bigger picture of the accident as well. For instance, if the driver was intoxicated then it's possible that a local alcohol vendor is responsible for the damage done under dram shop law. That's not to say I know he was intoxicated, only that things may be more complicated if police find evidence of that.
Altogether this wreck like any other should receive careful and thorough investigation to be sure the whole story is learned. The victim's loved ones deserve no less than the truth. Anything beyond bringing them that would depend on what it turns out to be.
