Two people are dead after an early morning head-on collision on State Highway 35 that shut down the Copano Bay Causeway for several hours.
The accident happened around 5:30 a.m. this morning just north of Holiday Beach, about 4 miles north of North Beach in Aransas County.
Those who died were Glen Franklin Prince, 62, of Port La Vaca, and Daniel Aaron Olvera, 27, of Corpus Christi. Both were the only passengers in their respective vehicles.
A preliminary investigation revealed that a driver of a 1999 Chevy Silverado was traveling north on State Highway 35. According to witnesses he was attempting to pass another vehicle traveling north on SH 35 and was driving in the southbound lane of SH 35. A driver of a 2015 Ford F-250 was traveling south on SH 35 and attempted to take evasive action and steer to the right before being struck head-on by the driver of Chevy pickup.
Olivera was the driver of the Chevy Silverado. Pierce was the driver of the Ford F-250. Both were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
“Everybody else has to be just that much more intent on being a good defensive driver, especially when it’s dark out,” DPS spokesman Sgt. Nathan Brandley said. “Because you never know when somebody is going to come into your lane and you have to change course of action or do whatever you can to get out of the way.”
Brandley said to especially be cognizant early in the day.
“Especially on two-lane highways such as State Hwy 35, slow down and take your time getting where you’re trying to get to because the risk is not worth it,” he said. Among those who responded to the accident included respondents from the Rockport Fire Department, Fulton Fire Department, Lamar Volunteer Fire Department, the Aransas County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers.
