Trailer Loaded With Cattle Avoids Impact in Crash Near Schulenburg

A Chevy pickup crashed on US 77 north of Schulenburg last Wednesday, Aug. 6.

The wreck happened around 10:52 a.m. on US 77 near FM 615. A report from the Texas Department of Public Safety said 43-year-old Marcus Woods of Austin was driving a white 2016 Chevy 2500 pickup north on US 77. He was traveling behind a cattle trailer that was being pulled by a gray 2022 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup driven by 52-year-old Clinton Basey of Florence. The trailer was loaded with cattle.

The report said the Dodge and the cattle trailer were slowing down to turn right onto a private driveway. The Chevy approached from the rear and swerved to avoid the cattle trailer. The Chevy went off the shoulder to the right and over the private driveway. It lost control, crashed into a fence, and came to rest on private property. DPS Trooper Patrick Mladenka investigated the crash. Mladenka’s report said that Woods, the driver of the Chevy, stated he believed the pickup and trailer in front of him had its left turn signal engaged, and that is why he attempted to pass on the right shoulder. However, Mladenka wrote that he checked the turn signals on the Dodge and the cattle trailer, and they were working properly.

The report said the investigator believed that Woods misjudged the actions of Basey, the driver of the Dodge pickup pulling the cattle trailer. Mladenka said he believed the Chevy took a faulty evasive action as it passed on the shoulder and lost control.

No one was injured. The Chevy sustained damage, but it managed to avoid a collision with the Dodge and the cattle trailer. The report said no citations were issued.