Foggy Conditions to Blame for Head-On Collision That Killed One

Fog in Fort Bend County was determined to be the cause of a fiery head-on collision that left one driver dead and another injured. Police announced the cause and stated that the driver of the vehicle traveling against traffic will not be facing charges.

In the early morning of Monday, April 5th, a major collision in Fort Bend County led to the death of one individual. According to authorities, the driver of one vehicle was attempting to pass another when it struck the vehicle of the deceased head-on.

The driver in question was traveling southbound on the two-lane highway FM-359 in a black Lexus when they tried to pass another vehicle in the southbound lane near Settegast Ranch Road.

Due to the fog, police believe that the Lexus driver was unable to see a silver Mazda traveling in the northbound lane.

The Lexus collided head-on with the Mazda, which burst into flames. Fort Bend County authorities announced via Twitter that the Mazda driver was pronounced dead at the scene while the Lexus driver was transported to the hospital.

The accident occurred in a section of the highway where passing is permitted, and authorities report that there were “no signs of intoxication, drugs, or alcohol.” Since the Lexus driver was unable to see the Mazda, the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office says they don’t expect to press charges on this case.

With annual average precipitation of just 18 inches, it should be no surprise that most Texas car accidents happen in clear or cloudy conditions. In fact, just over 89% of Texas crashes take place under these circumstances. In comparison, just over half of one percent of all Texas car accidents happen under foggy conditions.

It’s worth noting that these numbers are likely to be significantly different for the year 2021. Given the uncharacteristic snowstorms early in the year, the rate of snow and ice-related crashes is likely to be considerably higher. So far, it’s unclear whether similar unusual weather conditions will trouble Texans as the year continues.

Still, the rarity of these conditions means that many Texans are unfamiliar with the behaviors and precautions they should take while driving in poor weather. While foggy conditions are relatively rare in Texas, it may be in your best interest to familiarize yourself with the following methods for driving safely in fog:

While it’s impossible to predict when a car accident might happen, we can reduce that likelihood by driving carefully, especially under unfamiliar driving conditions.

Foggy Conditions to Blame for Head-On Collision That Killed One

Lapeze & Johns