FATAL ACCIDENT SUNDAY MORNING ON FM 2621
UPDATED 1:45PM Monday - The Department of Public Safety investigated a fatal traffic accident that occurred Sunday morning in Washington County. DPS reports that Sunday morning at 8:35 a 2015 Jeep, driven by Luther Schwettmann, 86 of Brenham, was traveling northbound on FM 2621 near Sandy Hill Road. The Jeep attempted to turn left into a private driveway when it was struck by a southbound Ford F250 pickup driven by Lynn Holloway, 74 of Brenham. In the passenger seat of the Jeep was Schwettmann's wife, Margaret. The pickup truck impacted the passenger side of the Jeep. Foggy conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident. The Brenham Fire Department was called out because the two occupants of the Jeep were entrapped. The driver and passenger of the Jeep along with the driver of the pickup were transported to the College Station Medical Center by EMS. 83 year old Margaret Schwettmann died from her injuries at the hospital Sunday evening. Luther Schwettmann and Lynn Holloway were listed in stable condition Monday afternoon by the hospital.
The commenter was 100% right in their description of the scene. 70 mph is far too high for the area.
The speed limit in front of the church on a narrow 2 lane road is 70 MPH. There is a dip in the road just north of the church, and it rises to a crest in front of the church. When coming from the south on a clear day, a driver cannot always see a vehicle coming from the north until it is 100 yards or less away. On the day of the accident, it was foggy, and the entire dip and crest of the hill was enshrouded in fog. There were multiple vehicles arriving at the church from the south that morning, as were the Schwettmann’s. As they turned left into the parking lot, they were hit hard by a pickup truck traveling from the north. Another vehicle immediately behind the Schettmann’s vehicle swerved off the road to the right just at the moment of impact. Both drivers reported that they did not see the approaching pickup truck until just the last second, and could not have done anything to avoid the collision. Both drivers also reported that they did not see any headlights on the truck, and that the color of the truck was such that it blended in with the foggy surroundings. The person driving the pickup probably had no safe options and no time to consider alternatives. As I looked at the road in front of the church this morning, it was apparent that the pickup truck was within 25-50 yards or less of the point of impact before anyone could have seen the other vehicle(s). There are two side road intersections and the church parking lot that meet with FM 2621 at this point. On both sides of the intersections, 2621 dips down where approaching vehicles are not seen for a short period of time. It has been suggested that there be a significantly reduced speed limit in this area–some distance in each direction.
I have personally come close to having a similar accident in front of the church on a clear day, so I am familiar with the problem. it is not unusual for large trucks and cattle trailers to be zooming by the church at 70 or so. It is a dangerous circumstance.