Jimmy Walker Killed in Crossover Accident on TX-302 near Kermit
Kermit, TX — August 2, 2022, 64-year-old Jimmy Paul Walker died in a four-vehicle crash along State Highway 302 outside Kermit.
According to reports the incident happened Tuesday afternoon along TX-302, roughly 20 miles from town. Preliminary investigation suggests Walker was eastbound on the highway in a Ford F-250 pickup truck when he allegedly crossed left of center.
His pickup sideswiped a westbound Ford F-350 and then headed toward a Dodge Ram behind it. The Dodge driver swerved to avoid him but sideswiped the F-250, after which Walker crashed into a nearby Volvo tractor-trailer.
Walker was pronounced dead at the scene. The other drivers, all wearing seat belts, were unhurt.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Jimmy Walker Accident on Highway 302
If reports have their facts straight it seems like the victim may have triggered this series of collisions by crossing left of center. However, so far they can't really shed much light on exactly how or why that happened. Clearly those details would make an enormous difference not only in how the wreck is understood, but what other steps (if any) might be warranted.
The circumstances leading up to a wreck can drastically alter what comes after it, which is why it's important to find out why the victim lost control and went over the center line. Was he distracted by something at the wheel? If so, what? If not that, then what else? Did he have a medical emergency? Did the truck lose traction or blow a tire? Could it have had a mechanical malfunction or defect that sent it off-course? Can any of the other drivers shed any light on what the F-250 was doing in the opposite lane as they approached? Did the Volvo truck have a dashcam?
The point of digging deep and trying to learn the specifics of what happened isn't to overcomplicate the matter or point fingers. I read the same reports as everyone else, and it's their vagueness that makes me try to learn more details. At the very least the family of the man who lost his life would likely appreciate more clarification about exactly how their terrible loss occurred; anything beyond bringing them the whole truth would probably depend on what is learned through rigorous investigation.
