02/12/10 A 65-year-old Midland man is dead after failing to yield the right of way on State Highway 349 and being struck by another car south of Midland.
Paul Earnest Allred was pronounced dead at Midland Memorial Hospital at 5:49 p.m. Friday by Justice of the Peace George Zimmerman, Department of Public Safety officials said.
John Allred, 21, who was riding in the vehicle, remained in serious condition with critical injuries at Midland Memorial Hospital late Friday, officials said.
A 17-year-old male, whose name was not released, as well as Midlanders Brigitte Rushing, 47, and Claudia Walker, 46, remained hospitalized late Friday in stable condition after being involved in the incident, officials said.
Paul Allred had been driving eastbound on West County Road 130 around 5:05 p.m. Friday in a blue 2004 Ford ZX4 when he failed to yield the right of way at a stop sign and was T-boned while turning onto State Highway 349, DPS officials said.
Walker and Rushing had been traveling south on SH 349 in a 1995 gold Ford Taurus and struck Allred when he turned onto the road in front of them, said Trooper Chris Goodman, who investigated at the scene.
Both John Allred and the 17-year-old male had been riding in the Ford ZX4.
The Ford Taurus spun around on impact, landing facing north with its front crushed in. The Ford ZX4 landed in the middle of the road facing east. The driver's side door had been folded in half and landed in the intersection next to shards of glass and several other pieces that had broken off of the vehicle.
Fluid also had spilled onto the road, and officials worked to cover it with dirt after the five people involved had been transported to Midland Memorial Hospital via ambulance.
The speed limit on that portion of SH 349 is 70 mph, according to DPS, and there was no record made of how fast officials believed the Taurus had been traveling.
North and southbound traffic on SH 349 was rerouted throughout the early evening as officials worked to investigate and clean up the scene.
Midland Fire Department, Midland County, EMS and DPS officials all responded.
This is at least the fourth fatality in Midland County since Jan. 1, according to Reporter-Telegram records.
A Midland man was killed Jan. 26 at the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 715 and East County Road 120. A pedestrian was killed Jan. 5 when struck on Midland Drive. A California man was killed in a one-vehicle rollover on Interstate 20 during the morning of Jan. 1.
Midland Reporter-Telegram. "Midland man dead after two-car accident." Midland Reporter-Telegram, February 12, 2010. http://www.mywesttexas.com/news/top_stories/article_7afd4407-dd3f-5260-a891-dd0bae860602.html
