Francis Leann Durham Obituary, Death – Fatal Crash on U.S. Highway 81
A tragic accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, October 15, on U.S. Highway 81, claiming the life of Francis Leann Durham, a 54-year-old woman from Eagletown, Oklahoma ¹. The fatal crash involved a car and a semi-truck, and the incident is currently under investigation by the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
The accident occurred at approximately 12:20 p.m., 1.6 miles north of Ringgold, Texas. According to the preliminary investigation report, the crash involved a 2022 Chevrolet Traverse driven by 34-year-old Sandra Bingham from Ryan, Oklahoma, and a 2021 Freightliner semi-truck towing a 2022 trailer driven by 58-year-old Robert Larry Krouse from Parsons, Kansas ².
Bingham’s vehicle was stopped at a temporary traffic control device on the northbound lane of U.S. 81 due to a stoplight when Krouse’s semi-truck approached from behind.
The DPS report indicates that Krouse failed to control his speed, resulting in the semi-truck crashing into the back of Bingham’s Traverse. The impact caused the Chevrolet Traverse to spin out of control and come to rest facing southeast, while the semi-truck remained facing north after the collision.
Bingham sustained incapacitating injuries from the crash and was transported to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth for treatment. Unfortunately, Durham, who was a passenger in Bingham’s vehicle, was pronounced dead after being transported to Nocona General Hospital.
The DPS report highlights that neither Bingham nor Durham were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, while Krouse, the driver of the semi-truck, was belted and did not suffer any injuries in the accident.
Following the crash, U.S. Highway 81 was temporarily closed in both directions as emergency responders arrived at the scene to assist the victims and clear the wreckage. Traffic was diverted while authorities worked to secure and investigate the site of the accident.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and the circumstances surrounding the truck driver’s failure to control his speed remain a key focus for authorities.
This tragic accident serves as a reminder of the importance of seatbelt use and driving vigilance, especially when approaching stopped vehicles in areas of road construction or traffic control.
As of now, no additional details regarding charges or further actions have been released by authorities. The crash underscores the potential dangers
