Burnet County jailer killed in four-car crash on U.S. 281

FROM STAFF REPORTS

BURNET — A Burnet County Sheriff’s Office jailer on his way to work May 13 died in a four-vehicle collision on a rain-slicked U.S. 281, four miles south of Lampasas, officials say.

Sgt. Anthony Riddle, 29, was pronounced dead at 5:17 p.m. at the scene by Burnet County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Lisa Whitehead. 

Riddle had been with the sheriff’s office since 2011 and is survived by his family, including two children. The law enforcement community as well as his family is mourning his death.

“It’s a big loss for the jail and the sheriff’s (office) because he was a leader,” said Burnet Police Chief Paul Nelson, who had assisted at the accident, which is being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety. “Our hearts go out to his family, the sheriff’s department and to the jail staff that he led on his shift.”

According to the DPS report, a 1997 Dodge Ram pickup driven by 27-year-old Brandon James King of Lampasas was traveling north on U.S. 281 when he collided with a 1996 Dodge Ram pickup traveling the same direction driven by 65-year-old Paul Kenneth Fusselman of Burnet.

Fusselman’s vehicle then slid into oncoming southbound traffic and collided with Riddle’s 2007 Pontiac Grad Am.

“He was on his way to work,” Nelson said.

A fourth vehicle, a 2008 Dodge Charger driven by 53-year-old Amanda Jane Robson of Burnet, was also involved in the collision.

Information about the possible hospital transports and conditions of the other drivers is pending.

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