Henderson County, TX — August 18, 2024, John Berkley and Levi Lott were killed and two were injured following a motorcycle accident at 8:30 p.m. on Highway 198.
Preliminary details from the Texas Department of Public Safety indicated that the accident happened in the area of Payne Springs.
According to officials, 52-year-old John Berkley, 32-year-old Levi Lott, and 25-year-old Cody Jordan were on separate motorcycles traveling southbound on Highway 198. From the northbound lane, it appears a pickup crossed the center line and crashed into Berkley. This reportedly caused Jordan to lose control and hit Lott, who then was forced off-road and over the side of a bridge.
Due to the collision, Berkley and Lott were killed. It appears Jordan was not taken to a hospital. Two people from the pickup reportedly had unspecified injuries. Right now, the exact factors leading to the crash are unclear, and authorities have not reported any charges or citations.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Ultimately, there are plenty of factors that can lead to a crash like this. Most will assume driver error must have been involved. Alcohol, fatigue, distraction, going too fast for conditions, etc. At the end of the day, though, it isn’t about finding someone to blame. It’s about getting answers for the victims and families involved. This means authorities need to consider even unlikely possible factors. Did a vehicle defect lead to the crash? Were there issues with the roadway? Missing signage or a lack of lighting? Was someone unlawfully over-served by an alcohol provider?
Sometimes, those extenuating circumstances are outside the scope of a typical police investigation, which is why I have to wonder if steps are being taken here to ensure investigations are being handled by professionals with the proper experience and equipment. Otherwise, there’s no telling what might slip through the cracks.
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