TX Man Jason Ward ID’d As Victim In Wednesday Concho Valley Crash

SAN ANGELO, TX. (THECOUNT) — Jason Richard Ward, of San Angelo, Texas, has died following a two-vehicle crash in Tom Green County, Texas, located in the Concho Valley region of west-central Texas, approximately 90 miles south of Abilene and about 200 miles northwest of Austin. The collision occurred near San Angelo and also involved Dustin Ray Dove, who sustained minor injuries, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Ward was 52.

The crash occurred at approximately 7:50 p.m. Wednesday on U.S. Highway 87 near Fairview School Road, a rural stretch of roadway north of San Angelo. San Angelo serves as the county seat of Tom Green County and functions as a regional hub for surrounding rural communities across the Concho Valley.

According to a preliminary investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety, both vehicles involved were 2017 model sport utility vehicles traveling northbound on U.S. 87 at the time of the collision. Ward was operating a Chevrolet Trax, while Dove, 34, of San Angelo, was driving a GMC Terrain.

Investigators reported that Ward failed to control his speed and struck the rear of Dove’s vehicle. The collision resulted in fatal injuries to Ward.

Ward was pronounced deceased at the scene by Justice of the Peace Harris, officials confirmed. Authorities reported that Ward was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Dove sustained minor injuries and was transported to Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo for treatment. Officials confirmed that Dove was wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.

Authorities reported that weather conditions were clear and the roadway was dry at the time of the crash. No additional contributing factors have been released.

U.S. Highway 87 is a major north-south route through west-central Texas, connecting rural communities with larger population centers and serving as a corridor for both local and commercial traffic. The section near Fairview School Road includes long, open stretches of highway where higher travel speeds are common.

San Angelo, with a population of approximately 100,000 residents, is one of the largest cities in west-central Texas and serves as an economic and transportation center for the region. Tom Green County is part of the broader Concho Valley area, which includes multiple smaller towns and rural roadways that rely heavily on highways such as U.S. 87 for daily travel.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is continuing to investigate the crash. No additional information has been released.

Crash location (approximate).

Fatal crashes on rural highways such as U.S. 87 are often closely reviewed by investigators due to the combination of higher travel speeds and limited traffic controls compared to urban roadways. The Texas Department of Public Safety routinely evaluates factors including vehicle speed, following distance, and driver response in rear-end collisions, particularly on open highway corridors where traffic flow can vary significantly.

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