An investigation into a collision between an 18-wheeler and a dump truck March 7 concluded that the driver of the larger rig “failed to yield the right of way” resulting in the crash, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The crash happened about noon on U.S. 281, 3.6 miles north of Marble Falls at the entryway of a quarry.
Investigators identified the deceased driver of the Burnet County dump truck as 32-year-old Benjamin Weems. Weems was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:59 p.m. by Burnet County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Peggy Simon.
According to the DPS report, a 1998 Freightliner 18-wheeler, driven by 37-year-old Joseph Slocum of Bertram, was sitting at a stop sign on the east side of the roadway, when a 2000 Freightliner dump truck approached traveling northbound on U.S. 281.
“The driver of (the 18-wheeler) thought that the driver of (the dump truck) was turning into the quarry,” the report stated.”The (18-wheeler) driver failed to yield the right-of-way from the stop sign and attempted to pull across 281 to travel southbound.” The dump truck “was unable to avoid the collision and struck the side of the 18-wheeler,” according to the report.
Officials at the scene said the driver of the 18-wheeler was transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure.