SALADO, TX. (THECOUNT) — John Josef Allen, of Belton, Texas, was identified Thursday as the man killed in a two-vehicle motorcycle crash at the intersection of FM 2484 and Ridgewood Drive west of Salado in Bell County, the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed. Allen was 68.
The crash was reported at approximately 4:16 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Allen was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Coleman.
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According to TxDPS, a 2023 Toyota Camry operated by a 25-year-old from Killeen was attempting to turn onto Ridgewood Drive from FM 2484 when Allen, traveling eastbound on a 2005 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, struck the Camry while attempting to pass another vehicle on the left. The driver of the Camry was transported to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center for evaluation. The severity of the Camry driver’s injuries was not specified.
The name of the Camry driver has not been released. No information was available regarding the use of safety equipment by either party.
Responding to the scene were the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, the Salado Fire Department, AMR Medical Services, and PHI Air Medical. FM 2484 was closed in the area while authorities worked the scene.
Salado is a small historic community in Bell County in central Texas, located along Interstate 35 approximately 12 miles north of Belton and 20 miles north of Killeen. FM 2484 is a farm-to-market road that runs west of Salado through a mix of residential and rural terrain. Bell County is part of the Killeen-Temple metropolitan area, one of the fastest-growing regions in the state of Texas.
Belton, where Allen resided, is the county seat of Bell County and is home to approximately 25,000 residents. The city sits at the confluence of Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 190, serving as a central hub for the surrounding communities of Killeen, Temple, and Salado.
Motorcycle crashes at rural intersections are among the most deadly traffic incidents in Texas. Farm-to-market roads frequently feature higher speed limits and limited sight lines at intersections, creating dangerous conditions for motorcyclists navigating traffic. Bell County has seen a number of fatal motorcycle crashes in recent years along its network of FM roads.
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, where the Camry driver was taken for evaluation, is a major regional medical facility serving Bell County and the surrounding central Texas area, with campuses in Temple and other nearby communities.
The crash investigation remains active and open, according to TxDPS. No charges or citations have been announced at this time.
A Google Maps link to the approximate crash location at FM 2484 and Ridgewood Drive west of Salado can be found here: FM 2484 & Ridgewood Drive, Salado, Texas (approximate).
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