Henderson County, TX — October 6, 2024, Michael Bone, his two sons, and Merri Kelly were killed in a traffic accident on FM 1616 in Henderson County.
According to authorities, the incident happened just before 12:30 p.m. on Farm to Market Road 1616, north of Athens. Preliminary investigation suggests Michael Bone was driving a Ford Ranger pickup east on the roadway when he may have lost control for unknown reasons. The truck traveled left over the center line, then collided with Merri Kelly’s westbound Nissan Armada.
Bone and his sons, aged 8 and 11, were pronounced dead at the scene. Kelly was transported to an area hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information is currently available.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Because a handful of factors cause the majority of crashes, folks tend not to look too far outside of them when trying to understand how a given accident occurred. Crossover accidents like the one near Athens are no exception, and people may not take all the possibilities into consideration. That’s why I make it a point to ask some important questions about any accident with unclear circumstances:
- Do authorities have the time and resources to investigate properly? Unfortunately many police departments are stretched too thin to dedicate much of what they have to thorough accident reconstructions. Officers sometimes end up reassigned while the ink is still drying on their report, and in a rushed job many important details may get overlooked—which could mean an incomplete story for the people who need answers.
- Did anyone check into vehicle defects? Mechanical failures and manufacturing flaws are relatively rare compared to some other explanations, but having said that they’re still much more common than people may realize. Authorities don’t always consider defects, and even if they do they may not have the equipment or training to check for them. When those issues get overlooked, something else may wrongly take the blame.
- Has anyone gathered all the electronic data? Like it or not, much of what we all do every day is recorded one way or another. The evidence contained in cell phones, dashcams, business security footage, and vehicle “black box” information can be crucial in forming a clear picture of the moments leading up to an accident.
That’s far from an exhaustive list of questions to address, but they’re good examples of what information must be gathered to put the puzzle together. If the victims’ loved ones are satisfied with the answers they get from police, that’s great. If however they still have doubts or feel things aren’t adding up, that may be a sign someone should pick things up where authorities fall short.
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