Trooper Mark Berry of the Texas Department of Public Safety in Milam County said Annie Franz, 64, of Belton was en route to the dentist in Huntsville at 12:09 p.m. when her vehicle veered off the right side of the road onto the grassy shoulder. She overcorrected to the left, Berry said, and lost control of the vehicle. The Saturn rolled on the right side, crashed through a fence, plowed through shrubs and came to rest in a flower garden at 2981 E. FM 485.
Berry said the driver was wearing a seat belt but suffered a severe head injury when the roof caved in.
Justice of the Peace Don Ahrendt of Cameron conducted an inquest at the accident scene. The body was taken to Green-Patterson Funeral Home in Cameron. The family had lived in Huntsville before moving to Belton, Berry said.
DPS Cpl. Jimmy Morgan of Cameron said Friday’s fatality was the fifth this month on Milam County roads. Thirteen people have died in Milam County auto accidents so far this year.
Pamela Melton, 44; her daughter, Delilah Denise Melton, 22; and her granddaughter, Brittany Johnson, 2, all of Milano, were killed Sept. 15. Bill Brown Jr., 50, of Killeen was killed Sept. 9 when his 2007 Harley Davidson struck a 2002 Kia minivan on U.S. Highway 79 about three miles east of Milano.
“The last two fatalities were caused by the driver overcorrecting,” Morgan said, “and the Sept. 9 accident was a mistake in judgment, passing when someone was trying to make a left turn.”
jwilliams@temple-telegram.com
