Wednesday, October 2, 2024
SPRINGTOWN — A first responder died just south of Springtown Oct. 1 following a collision on Farm-to-Market Road 51.
Yesterday afternoon, Springtown Police officers responded to reports of an accident involving serious injury in the 1000 block of South Main Street (FM 51) near the intersection with Lynch Bend Road, according to a city of Springtown press release. Upon arrival, officers discovered one victim with critical injuries and began attempts at life-saving measures until the arrival of LifeCare medics.
Preliminary investigation and eyewitness statements show that shortly before 1:15 p.m., a semi was stopped in the northbound lane of traffic waiting to make a left-turn westbound onto Lynch Bend Road, according to the press release. Initially, there was a sedan and truck pulling a trailer that was hauling a large shed stopped behind the semi. Eventually, the sedan legally passed the semi on the right allowing the truck with the trailer to move immediately behind the semi. Shortly after this, eyewitnesses said the victim, who was operating Harley Davidson motorcycle and traveling northbound on FM 51, approached the stopped vehicles from the south, but for an unknown reason was unable stop before colliding with the trailer attached to the truck stopped behind the semi. Eyewitness reports state the victim was observed looking down shortly before the accident occurred. In an apparent effort to avoid colliding with the trailer at full speed from the rear, the victim swerved to the left, but in doing so clipped the rear of the trailer, gravely injuring his leg before entering the southbound traffic lane where he collided head on with a Cadillac that was traveling within the southbound lane. According to eyewitness reports and the preliminary investigation, neither vehicle had time to take evasive maneuvers to avoid colliding with each other head on at full speed.
The operator of the motorcycle was identified as Joshua Brandes, a 41-year-old man who resided in Decatur. Upon arrival to the scene, Springtown Police officers attempted life-saving measures including applying a torniquet to the victim’s leg injury and performing CPR until medics arrived on scene. Despite further attempts at life-saving measures by medics at the scene, Brandes was pronounced dead at 1:24 p.m. No other individuals were injured in the collision.
The victim was identified to be a 13-year veteran firefighter with the Irving Fire Department as well as a Decatur Police Department reserve officer. As such, his remains were escorted by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers from the scene of the accident to downtown Fort Worth. Agencies along the route were notified and several made a presence along the route out of respect for a fallen fellow first responder.
“Any loss of life which is the result of a motor vehicle accident is tragic, but when the victim is a fellow first responder, it is especially impactful for all first responders who are involved with working the scene and investigating the accident,” Springtown City Administrator and Director of Public Safety David Miller said in the press release. “Our hearts remain heavy for his loved ones as well as those he served beside at both the Irving Fire Department and the Decatur Police Department as they mourn the shocking loss of one of their own.”
Following the accident, FM 51 remained closed from 1:15 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. between State Highway 199 and Browder Lane to allow for the preliminary investigation to take place. This closure did require the rerouting of some Springtown Independent School District school buses following the afternoon release from local campuses.
“The Springtown Police Department wishes to express it gratitude to the Springtown ISD for proactively working with city officials to reroute as many busses as possible around the accident scene and highway closure,” Springtown Deputy Chief of Police Jamie Oliver said in the press release.
In addition to the Springtown Police Department, other agencies who responded to the accident included the Parker County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, LifeCare Emergency Medical Services and Parker County Emergency Services District 1.
It is important to note and understand that at the time of this press release, only information from the preliminary investigation and eyewitness statements is available. As the investigation continues, if additional information or contributing factors are identified, then additional press releases may be issued as appropriate.
