One person is dead after a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of Ranch to Market 165 and U.S. Highway 290 near Dripping Springs.
Danny “Mann” Wilford, 34, was driving a freightliner dump truck east on Hwy. 290 when a Dodge pickup truck ran into him, according to a preliminary report from the Texas Department of Public Safety. The impact from the pickup, which was trying to turn left onto RM 165 from Hwy. 290, caused the dump truck to roll onto its side, hit a light pole and burst into flames. The crash happened at 5:51 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10.
Wilford sustained fatal injuries from the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace John Burns.
The third vehicle involved was a Ford F150. The vehicle swerved to miss the crash, went into a ditch and rolled over. Both drivers of the Dodge and Ford were taken to St. David’s South Medical Center in Austin for treatment injuries described as non-life threatening.
Wilford is survived by his wife and their four sons Daniel, John, Ethan and Jonah. Two separate GoFundMe fundraisers have been started for the family in his honor, already totalling over $75,000 in donations.
“His death was unexpected,” one GoFundMe page reads. “He was the pillar, foundation, protector, and sensible friend, so you never worried about him. Danny gave you a sense of comfort that he would always be there, and he seemed invincible.”
Those wishing to donate can visit either gofundme.com/f/danny-wilford-memorial-fund or gofundme.com/f/extending-the-life-of-danny-through-his-boys.
As of Monday, Feb. 14, the crash remains under investigation.