Derrell Bobbit Killed in Auto Accident on US-69 in Cherokee County, TX
Cherokee County, TX — July 26, 2022, 58-year-old Derrell Bobbitt was killed in a traffic accident on U.S. Highway 69 in Cherokee County.
According to reports the incident happened around 9:25 a.m. on northbound US-69, south of Jacksonville. Preliminary investigation suggests Bobbitt was driving a Buick LeSabre north on the highway when he attempted to change lanes. While merging he allegedly failed to control the car's speed and struck the back-left of a trailer attached to a GMC Sierra pickup truck.
After the impact Bobbitt lost control and the Buick veered through the road and hit an embankment, overturning onto its roof.
Bobbitt was transported from the scene to a Jacksonville hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. No other injuries were reported.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Derrell Bobbitt Accident in Cherokee County
Reports suggest this crash may have been triggered by the victim making an unsafe lane change. I have no particular reason to doubt that, but I've done this for long enough to know that preliminary investigation isn't the final word and doesn't cover all the possible explanations. What if there's more to the story?
A crash caused by a driver mistake and one caused by something out of his hands--a vehicle malfunction, losing traction on water or gravel, or even a sudden medical emergency--might look the same from the outside. However, blaming the driver for something he couldn't have foreseen or prevented would obviously be unfair. That's why it's so important to investigate every wreck carefully and thoroughly rather than slapping a conclusion together after a superficial once-over at the scene. The victim deserves the benefit of the doubt and his loved ones deserve all the answers they can get. Will police deliver those answers, or is this another accident where an independent investigation would be useful?
