MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – The Texas Department of Transportation is investigating after an early morning crash left one Odessa resident dead on Thursday.
According to a release from DPS, preliminary information revealed that at about 6:35 am on Thursday, January 9, a 2020 Kenworth semi-truck with a trailer, operated by 27-year-old Sheniel Nicholas Samuels, of Columbus, Ohio, was traveling west on State Highway 349. Meanwhile, a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado, operated by 57-year-old Richard Allen Howell, of Odessa, and a 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 were traveling east on SH 349. Samuels was found to be traveling at an unsafe speed for the icy road conditions before veering into the eastbound lane and colliding with the two other vehicles on the overpass bridge.
Howell was pronounced dead at the scene. DPS said the other two drivers were not injured during the incident. This crash remains under investigation…