ARMSTRONG COUNTY, Texas (KVII) — According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a three vehicle crash in Armstrong County around 9:45 Saturday morning left one person dead.
DPS says 61-year-old Ross Rizzo of Mesquite, Texas, was the driver of a 2000 Ford F-150 pickup truck that was an escort vehicle for a wide load. Thirty-year-old Christopher Ellis of Cleburne, Texas, was the driver of a Peterbilt truck tractor towing a 2016 Aspen heavy equipment semi-trailer.
According to DPS, Rizzo and Ellis legally parked facing westbound on 287 in the left turning lane. They were outside their vehicles to inspect the load on the semi-trailer.
Meanwhile, 23-year-old Michael Hart of Provo, Utah was driving a 2003 Honda Odyssey mini-van westbound on US-287 about 6 miles west of Claude. The mini-van crashed into the rear end of the Ford pickup truck. That sent the truck forward and ran over Rizzo, causing his death.
The pickup then collided into the rear end of the semi-trailer and traveled into the median where it caught fire.
The mini-van also collided into the semi-trailer and traveled into the westbound lanes of 287 where it caught fire.
Rizzo was pronounced dead on scene by Armstrong County Justice of the Peace Dianne Samaniego.
Ellis was not injured in the crash.
Hart and another passenger in the mini-van, 23-year-old Tayla Hart of Provo, Utah were taken to the hospital. They are being treated for their injuries. They were both wearing seat belts, according to DPS.
DPS says road conditions were dry and no other vehicles were involved.
Story provided by ABC 7 News.
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