On Sunday, Sept. 11 an accident involving a couple on a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a couple in a Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicle occurred at the intersection of State Highway 24 and Farm-to-market 64.
The older couple – George and Karen Blomberg from Kansas in the Jeep – was exiting the Dairy Queen parking lot and was pulling out from the stop sign behind another vehicle. According to the report when they proceeded to the intersection they were unaware of the Harley Davidson motorcycle traveling towards them. Mardy James Brown Sr. was on the front of the motorcycle with his wife, Lisa, riding behind him when he was forced to “lay it down” as it slid under the Jeep. Mardy James Brown Sr., 49, was pronounced dead at the scene, and Lisa Brown, 49, passed away after being transported by ambulance to the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Francis hospital in Sulphur Springs. Both were wearing helmets at the time of the accident, and no inclement weather was present.
“This is the eighth fatal accident to happen this year,” reported Delta County Sheriff Ricky Smith, noting the majority of these accidents have been in the State Highway 24 road construction areas. “I know some of the signs are confusing and the areas near both creeks with the S-curve are very dangerous. We have had some voluntary overtime patrols working the highway until our budget became too tight to afford it.”
He said this is the highest number they have seen and urged drivers to be extra cautious. He hopes when the construction traffic moves to the new portion of SH24 it will help decrease accidents. It is expected this will take place near the first of the year. The Texas Department of Transportation has had several delays with rain this past year.
There was also an unrelated incident in town involving a Cooper ISD school bus full of students but no injuries were reported. Apparently another driver had run a stop sign. There was only minor damage to the bus, and students were transferred before being taken home.