FISHER COUNTY, TX. (THECOUNT) — Elmo Hiram Nowlain, 80, of Valley Mills, and Andrew Joseph Starr, 39, of Hamilton, were killed Wednesday afternoon when the pickup truck they were traveling in was struck by another truck at a Fisher County intersection, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The driver of the other pickup, Joseph Timothy Shults, 38, of Ropesville, was injured.
Fisher County is located in West Texas, approximately 100 miles west of Abilene. The fatal collision occurred at the intersection of U.S. Highway 180 and Farm to Market Road 611 in Sweetwater.
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According to a preliminary investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred at approximately 4:17 p.m. Wednesday. Nowlain was driving a 2015 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup eastbound on U.S. 180 with Starr as his passenger.
At the same time, Shults was driving a 2024 Ford F-150 pickup toward the intersection from the opposite direction. DPS investigators said Nowlain failed to yield the right of way while turning left, placing the Dodge directly in the path of the Ford.
The Ford struck the Dodge, resulting in fatal injuries to both occupants of the Ram. Nowlain and Starr were pronounced dead at the scene.
State troopers reported that neither Nowlain nor Starr was wearing a seatbelt when the collision occurred.
Shults was wearing his seatbelt during the crash. He sustained minor injuries and was transported to Fisher County Hospital for treatment.
The preliminary findings identify failure to yield by the Dodge Ram driver as a contributing circumstance in the collision. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details could be released as authorities continue reviewing the crash.
The crash involved two pickup trucks, a 2015 Dodge Ram 3500 and a 2024 Ford F-150. Authorities have not reported any additional fatalities or serious injuries in connection with the collision.
Investigators with the Texas Department of Public Safety continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash at the U.S. 180 and FM 611 intersection. The preliminary nature of the investigation means the findings are subject to change as additional evidence is reviewed.
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