Parts of 281 and 29 in Burnet to close for firefighter’s procession
FROM STAFF REPORT
BURNET — People traveling through or around Burnet the morning of Sept. 24 might want to find alternative routes if they’re trip includes parts of Texas 29 and U.S. 281 from Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home to Hill Country Fellowship Church.
This is the route for Burnet firefighter Daniel Hampton’s funeral procession, which will be from 8-9 a.m.
City officials announced that Texas 29 from the funeral home, located at 306 Polk St. (Texas 29), will be closed to the U.S. 281 intersection. Then, U.S. 281 from that intersection south to Houston Clinton Drive also will be closed during this time for Hampton’s procession.
The area should be closed for about an hour, officials said.
Hampton’s funeral is 10 a.m. at Hill Country Fellowship Church, 200 Houston Clinton Drive.
Hampton, 35, died Sept. 18 after the Burnet ambulance he was driving collided into the back of a semi-truck trailer about 9 p.m. on Texas 29 between Bertram and Liberty Hill. He had been a firefighter/EMT with the city of Burnet for two years.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the ambulance was transporting a patient to a Round Rock hospital when it struck the back of the semi-truck, which was attempting to make a turn into a private driveway.
The ambulance did not have its emergency lights on, officials said.
Hampton was pronounced dead at the scene.
Burnet paramedic Timothy Pierce, 54, was injured in the accident and was transported to Seton Williamson County in serious condition. According to city of Burnet officials, Pierce has since been moved from ICU to a floor bed, where he is recovering.
The ambulance patient, Donna Girard, 54, of Marble Falls, was transported to St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center in critical condition, according to the DPS.
Hampton leaves behind a wife and four children.
The Hill Country 100 Club is raising funds for the Hampton and Pierce families. Checks and monetary donations may be mailed to Hill Country 100 Club, P.O. Box 381, Burnet, TX 78611. In the memo section of the check, individuals need to indicate to which recipient they are donating such as “Hampton family” or “Timothy Pierce.”
If donating to both, officials ask that donors write separate checks for each.
Go to www.hc100club.com for more information on the Hill Country 100 Club. No donations are being processed through the website.
During the procession, drivers in the Burnet area can avoid traffic by taking Coke Street south (on the east side of Burnet adjacent to the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office) to Pecan Street and then head west. Then, they can take Boundary Street south to CR 340 and follow it to the fork south of Burnet and head west on CR 340A back to U.S. 281 near Seton Highland Lakes.
For drivers who want to head north of U.S. 281, take Hill Street on the east side on Burnet north to Graves Street (FM 963). Take Graves west to U.S. 281, which comes out north of the 281-29 intersection.
People heading east on Texas 29 toward Burnet can turn north on Watts Street and follow it to Johnson Street. Take Johnson Street east to U.S. 281. From there, drivers can head north on U.S. 281 or continue across to the other side of Johnson Street. Then, continue on Johnson to Hill Street and head south back to Texas 29. From here, drivers can head east on Texas 29 or to Coke Street to travel south (using directions from above to get back to U.S. 281 south of the procession and affected area.)
Drivers coming in to Burnet on U.S. 281 from the north can take Graves Street (FM 963) east to Hill Street and then south to Texas 29 or take Johnson Street west to Watts Street and south to Texas 29 west of the 281-29 intersection.
People headed north into Burnet on U.S. 281 can take CR 340A east (located at the light south of Seton Highland Lakes) and follow it to CR 340. Then, proceed north on CR 340 to Boundary Street. Take Boundary Street east to Pecan Street and then east on Pecan to Coke Street, which leads to Texas 29.
editor@thepicayune.com