Marble Falls man dies after being hit by 18-wheeler on U.S. 281
FROM STAFF REPORTS
ROUND MOUNTAIN — A Marble Falls man died Nov. 24 after an 18-wheeler rear-ended his vehicle on U.S. 281 south of Texas 71 near the Burnet-Blanco county line, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The report stated the collision, involving three vehicles, happened at 7:44 a.m. about four-tenths of a mile south of the Marble Falls city limits.
Gabriel Brondo, 40, of Marble Falls, who was driving a 2001 Honda Accord, was pronounced dead at the scene by Burnet County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Guilford Jones.
A Kenworth truck hauling a gravel trailer — driven by Jaime Pedraza, 31, of Brownsville — was traveling southbound in the inside lane behind the Honda Accord, the report stated.
“The Honda Accord was slowing or stopped in an attempt to make a left-hand turn,” DPS Public Information Officer Robbie Barrera said. “The driver of the truck tractor-trailer failed to control his speed, striking the Honda upon the left-rear side.
“As it took evasive action after the initial impact, both vehicles continued southbound on 281 in a side skid in the center of the road,” she added.
The 18-wheeler then collided with a northbound 2011 Ford F-250 driven by 52-year-old Paul Cook of Blanco.
The driver of the pickup was northbound on 281 in the inside lane, observed the crash as it occurred and attempted to avoid the accident by swerving to the left, she said.
All occupants were reportedly wearing seat belts.
The report described the road conditions as wet.
The speed limit where the collision occurred is 70 mph.
Information about the conditions of the surviving drivers was unavailable.
editor@thepicayune.com
5 thoughts on “Marble Falls man dies after being hit by 18-wheeler on U.S. 281”
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Apparently, according to Texas law, 7 people must die in a specific spot or intersection before a turning lane and/or stop light is to be put in….. May God be with his family over these tough times!!! We love you Angel!!
Rest in peace Gabe. The 1st time I came to TX you nicknamed me Gallager and it stuck and I laugh today thinking about that. Stopping in front of EZ Heat was always been very risky and scared all of us. It is very sad.
You will be greatly missed Your friend always Todd Moon- that yankee from MN.
We need to have a turning lane put in. What is it going to take for 281 to have one? Too many 18 wheelers and traffic in general going through for us to not have one… It’s not ok at all.
Unfortunately, this will be the new reality along “concrete ally” here on 71 in Spicewood. The good ‘ol boys at TxDot are issuing highway access permits to all these new plants with no intention of improving the roads to support them. No center turn lane and no improved shoulders. Four concrete plants, an asphalt plant and a rock pit. It’s a recipe for disaster and people will die because of it.
So what do we do? There has to be someone somewhere that we can contact about this. It’s only going to get worse with more houses and subdivisions going along 281.