16-year old Christopher Ragle and 16-year old Gabriella Giles, both students of Ball High School in Galveston, were tragically killed this morning when their pickup truck collided with a Republic Services garbage truck on Stewart Road near 84th Street shortly before 7:00 a.m. The Galveston Daily News web site has detailed coverage of this tragic accident.
Photo credit: KHOU
Gabriella Giles and Christopher Ragle
A motorcyclist was seriously injured in an early morning crash today. The rider was heading down Briar Forest near the West Sam Houston Parkway around 3:00 a.m. when he struck the rear of a garbage truck that was pulling out of a business. Houston Police Department representative Javier Tapia told Channel 2 News that the motorcycle rider wound up underneath the garbage truck and sustained head injuries, including a fractured skull. He was rushed to the hospital.
In some of the comments to Channel 2’s story readers seem quick to blame the motorcyclist for the accident, but they may well be rushing to judgment. For example, the timing of when the trash truck pulled out into the main lanes is relevant to fault. Also based on Channel 2’s photograph (see below) the area where the accident happened does not appear to be particularly well-lit. Maybe the garbage truck had it’s lights on, maybe it didn’t.
Photo credit: Channel 2 News