Schulenburg Man Injured Near Plum

A Schulenburg man suffered serious injuries in a two-vehicle collision on State Highway 71 near Plum on May 12. According to a report from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash happened around 3:22 p.m. at the intersection of SH 71 and State Loop 220.

The report said 73-year-old Raymond Leo Dittrich of Schulenburg was driving a white 2018 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup. The pickup was stopped on Loop 220 at the intersection. Petar Milich, 22 of Katy, was driving a gray 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee west on SH 71 in the inside lane.

The report said Dittrich “failed to yield the right of way at the stop sign and entered the intersection.” The front of the Jeep struck the left side of Dittrich’s pickup. The pickup came to rest in the center median. The Jeep came to rest on the inside shoulder of the westbound lane.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts. Multiple airbags deployed in Dittrich’s pickup. Dittrich suffered serious injuries. A helicopter from AirEvac Life Team transported him to Dell Seton Hostpital in Austin. Airbags in the Jeep also deployed. Milich suffered less serious injuries. Fayette County EMS transported him by ambulance to St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange.

The accident was investigated by Trooper Joshua Berger of the Texas Highway Patrol. Berger did not issue any citations.