The vehicle was in the northbound lane when it left the road and veered into the oak tree some 30 feet from the highway.
A Bell County sheriff’s deputy on the scene said the accident happened about 4:20 p.m. and was being investigated as a suicide.
Justice of the Peace Garland K. Potvin said he pronounced death for William Gene Phipps, 54, of Killeen at 4:52 p.m.
Phipps’ brother, Cleburne W. Phipps of Killeen who was on the scene with family members, said his brother intentionally took his life because he felt he had no options.
“This had to do with the parole system,” Phipps said. “A trivial complaint was made to his parole officer and he was told there was a 90 percent chance he would go back to prison.”
Phipps said he had a conversation with his brother about 3 to 4 hours before the accident.
“I tried to talk to him about it,” said Phipps. “He said he wasn’t going back to prison over something stupid.”
“But this is stupid. It’s a permanent solution to a temporary problem.”
He said his brother thought his parole would be revoked without the validity of the allegation first being checked.
Other family members were at the roadside with Phipps - three women and two men. They said they did not wish to make a statement.
Phipps was asked if all family members had been notified of the death.
“Yes sir. Everyone’s been notified,” Phipps said. “Everyone knows.”
The extended-cab truck was barely recognizable as a pickup. It burst into flames after the collision.
The blaze set fire to surrounding dry grass along the roadside burning an area some 40 by 100 feet and scorching the tree completely black.
Killeen’s fire chief, Jerry Gardner said a tanker, two engine trucks and an emergency medical vehicle from the department responded the accident. The blaze was extinguished before it could spread.
The Bell County Sheriff’s Department and Texas Department of Public Safety officers also responded.
“It was fortunate that the wind had died down or it could have been worse,” Potvin said.
Potvin ordered the remains sent to Dallas for autopsy.
A deputy with Bell County said a report of investigation would be available today.
hclark@temple-telegram.com
