Richard Eveland Killed, Francisca Rhoads Injured in 18-wheeler Accident in Ennis, TX
UPDATE (March 7, 2023): Details from authorities identified the person injured in the accident as 48-year-old Francisca Rhoads. Further information about the crash can't be confirmed at this time.
Ennis, TX -- February 3, 2023, Richard Eveland was killed and one person was injured after an accident involving an 18-wheeler.
Authorities said that the incident happened at around 7:00 p.m. along US Highway 287 in the area of Ennis Parkway.
According to initial details, 38-year-old Richard Eveland was in a Chevy Silverado which police say was going southbound on northbound lanes of the highway. Doing so, the vehicle crashed head-on into an 18-wheeler.
As a result of the collision, Eveland sustained fatal injuries. The truck driver was said to have incapacitating injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Wrong-way collisions always raise red flags, but I have serious concerns that this accident may have involved particularly unusual circumstances the deceased driver couldn't avoid. Usually, this sort of thing happens late at night or early in the morning when things like alcohol and fatigue are more common. The fact this was relatively early in the evening makes me wonder if there's more to the story.
Consider, for example, an issue that happened here in Dallas some years ago. Officials noticed there was an abnormally high number of wrong-way collisions on a tollway, so they had TxDOT do some research. It turned out all of the "Do Not Enter" signs were at a height that most drivers could not adequately see, especially when it was dark out. They lowered the signs, and the number of wrong-way accidents significantly lowered.
While I certainly can't say what did or didn't happen here, is that something authorities are going to give attention to? Are steps being taken to ensure the victims and families involved here get the full story?
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