Temple Pedestrian, 79, Killed After Being Struck by SUV on State Highway 53 in Bell County

Published by Dunk Law Firm

Published:

Branded Dunk Law Firm news card about the November 11, 2026, pedestrian crash on State Highway 53 in Bell County, Texas, that killed 79-year-old Dwayne Burnell Williams of Temple, with Texas DPS-sourced facts and the phone number 888-551-3865. The background is an AI-generated editorial illustration, not the actual crash scene: an empty lit road at night.

BELL COUNTY, Texas — A 79-year-old Temple man was killed Wednesday night, November 11, 2026, when an SUV struck him as he walked on State Highway 53 in Bell County, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety as reported by KWTX, KCEN and KXXV.

DPS identified the pedestrian as Dwayne Burnell Williams. KWTX reported that his next of kin have been notified. According to the lead investigator, as reported by KWTX, Mr. Williams was walking eastbound on State Highway 53 when a 2016 Buick SUV, also traveling eastbound, struck him. The SUV was driven by a 69-year-old woman from Conroe, DPS said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

KWTX reported that troopers responded to the crash at about 8:27 p.m. Nov. 11 near 12135 State Highway 53. KCEN, also citing DPS, reported that the crash happened at approximately 8:27 p.m. near the 12000 block, and it quoted the department as saying this happened "for reasons yet unknown." An earlier KCEN report, and KXXV, said Bell County deputies arrived around 8:20 p.m. in the 12100 block of State Highway 53. Those block descriptions are consistent with the 12135 address.

Drivers were asked to avoid State Highway 53 between Seaton Road and FM 2086. The Bell County Sheriff's Office, in the earlier KCEN report, said DPS would lead the investigation and that the stretch was expected to be closed for several hours. DPS is continuing to investigate, and no citation or charge was reported in the sources reviewed. We extend our deepest sympathy to Mr. Williams' family.

Questions after a serious crash? Call Dunk Law Firm at (888) 551-3865 for a free case review, 24/7.

Key Facts

  • Location: State Highway 53 near 12135 SH 53 in Bell County, Texas (also described as the 12100 block or the 12000 block); the closed stretch was between Seaton Road and FM 2086
  • Date and time: Wednesday, November 11, 2026; DPS, per KWTX and KCEN, placed the crash at about 8:27 p.m. Central; the Bell County Sheriff's Office, per KCEN and KXXV, said deputies arrived around 8:20 p.m.
  • People and vehicles: Dwayne Burnell Williams, 79, of Temple, walking eastbound; an eastbound 2016 Buick SUV driven by a 69-year-old woman from Conroe
  • Deaths: Mr. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene
  • Injuries: The sources reviewed do not report any other injuries
  • Investigating agency: Texas Department of Public Safety; the investigation is ongoing, and KCEN quoted DPS as saying the reasons were yet unknown

Sources checked as of November 12, 2026, 7:02 p.m. CST. This line is not the article's publication date.

Timeline of Official Statements and Reporting

  • Wed., Nov. 11, around 8:20 p.m. Central: Bell County deputies arrive in the 12100 block of State Highway 53 (sheriff's office, per KCEN and KXXV).
  • Wed., Nov. 11, about 8:27 p.m. Central: DPS places the crash at this time near 12135 State Highway 53; Mr. Williams is pronounced dead at the scene (DPS, per KWTX and KCEN).
  • Wed., Nov. 11, 9:10 p.m. Central: KCEN publishes the sheriff's road-closure advisory; DPS is on scene and will lead the investigation (reporting milestone).
  • Wed., Nov. 11, 9:24 p.m. / 9:28 p.m. Central: KXXV publishes at 9:24 p.m.; KWTX first publishes at 9:28 p.m. (reporting milestones).
  • Thu., Nov. 12, 10:59 a.m. Central: KCEN publishes DPS's identification of Mr. Williams (reporting milestone). KXXV's article shows a 10:44 a.m. update.

What Makes This Crash Different

This was a vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash on a state highway at night, not a collision between two cars. The DPS account, as reported by KWTX and KCEN, says Mr. Williams was walking eastbound and that the Buick SUV was also traveling eastbound. The sources reviewed do not say he was crossing the highway, and they do not say whether he was in a travel lane, on a shoulder or somewhere else on the roadway.

DPS has not offered a cause. KCEN quoted the department as saying the SUV struck him "for reasons yet unknown," and KWTX reported that the circumstances remain under investigation. That hedge should be left in place. The SUV driver's name was not in the sources reviewed, and no citation or charge was reported.

Questions Investigators May Examine

  • Where on the roadway Mr. Williams was walking, and what the highway layout, lighting and visibility were at about 8:27 p.m.
  • What the SUV's event data recorder, any dash camera and any nearby highway or business cameras show about speed, lane position and braking.
  • Why, in DPS's words, the crash happened; the department has said the reasons are not yet known.
  • Whether anyone else was in the SUV; the sources reviewed mention only the driver.

These are investigative questions, not allegations that any driver, agency or company caused the crash.

What Remains Unknown

  • Why the crash happened; KCEN quoted DPS as saying the reasons were yet unknown, and KWTX reported that the circumstances remain under investigation.
  • The name of the 69-year-old woman from Conroe who was driving the SUV, and whether anyone else was in the vehicle.
  • The exact point on the roadway where Mr. Williams was walking.
  • How long State Highway 53 stayed closed; the sheriff's office said the closure was expected to last several hours.
  • Whether any citation or charge was issued; none was reported in the sources reviewed.

Evidence to Preserve

  • Request the crash report when it is available (see below) and keep the report or case number.
  • Find out where each vehicle is. Vehicles can be held as evidence. A person with legal authority can ask that a vehicle be preserved before it is repaired, salvaged or destroyed, while respecting any law-enforcement hold.
  • Ask about video early. Tell investigators or a lawyer about businesses, traffic cameras or doorbell cameras near State Highway 53 near 12135 SH 53. Recordings can be overwritten. Do not enter restricted property to get them.
  • Ask about cameras along this stretch of SH 53. Tell investigators or a lawyer about highway cameras, nearby businesses or any dash camera that may have recorded the minutes before the crash. Recordings can be overwritten quickly.
  • Keep original photos, texts and witness contact details without editing them. Access a deceased person's phone or accounts only with proper legal authority.
  • Keep financial, work and insurance records, including funeral costs, medical bills, pay stubs, policies and claim letters.

Our guide on evidence that can disappear after a vehicle collision explains why preservation can matter before an investigation ends. Avoid public accusations, and do not post private family documents.

How to get the crash report. Texas peace officer crash reports (CR-3) are sold through TxDOT's crash reports page and its CRIS purchase site. TxDOT lists $6 for a regular copy and $8 for a certified copy, plus a possible processing charge, and people outside the eligible categories receive a redacted copy. Officers generally have ten days to submit reports, which does not guarantee a report is available on day ten. Requests for scene photos, video or other investigation files go to the investigating agency (the Texas Department of Public Safety), not TxDOT.

What Families Should Know

This is general information about Texas law, not advice about anyone's claim, and it does not assume anyone is at fault.

Who can bring a wrongful death claim in Texas? Under Civil Practice and Remedies Code §71.004, a wrongful death action is for the exclusive benefit of the surviving spouse, children and parents of the person who died, and one or more of them may bring it for all of them. If none of them files within three calendar months after the death, the executor or administrator must bring it unless all of them ask otherwise. That three-month rule is not the overall filing deadline.

What is the deadline? CPRC §16.003(b) generally requires a suit for injury resulting in death to be brought within two years after the cause of action accrues, and it says the claim accrues on the death of the injured person. Tolling and special rules can apply, so nothing here is a calculated deadline for any family. A person who was injured but survived has a separate personal-injury provision in §16.003(a).

How does fault work? Under CPRC Chapter 33, a claimant found more than 50 percent responsible cannot recover damages, and a lower percentage reduces damages by that share. In a death case, the fault of the person who died can count. Fault is decided on the evidence, and the sources we reviewed do not make a final finding.

Damages. Texas wrongful death damages are awarded in proportion to the injury under §71.010, which does not state a fixed dollar ceiling. That does not mean "no caps" in every situation: exemplary (punitive) damages, claims against government entities and health-care claims follow separate rules that need individual legal review.

A wrongful death lawyer can explain these rules without assuming anyone is responsible. Before signing an insurance release, understand which claims it settles and whether you have authority to sign it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who caused the crash? DPS has not stated a cause. KCEN quoted the department as saying the SUV struck Mr. Williams "for reasons yet unknown," and KWTX reported that the circumstances remain under investigation. No final finding, citation or charge was reported in the sources reviewed.

Has the family been notified? Yes. KWTX reported that DPS identified the pedestrian as Dwayne Burnell Williams, 79, of Temple, and that his next of kin have been notified.

How can a family get the crash report? Texas crash reports (CR-3) are sold through TxDOT's crash reports page and CRIS once the Texas Department of Public Safety submits them. See the crash report section above.

How Dunk Law Firm Can Help

A case review can help identify which records to request, what evidence may need preserving, which insurance policies to look at and who may have authority to act. It cannot establish fault or promise compensation before the facts are known.

Dunk Law Firm handles wrongful death, catastrophic injury and commercial vehicle cases. Our Houston office serves families in Bell County and Central Texas and throughout Texas, and the firm also serves clients statewide in Tennessee, Missouri and Wisconsin, with offices in Memphis, St. Louis and Milwaukee. Dunk Law Firm does not contact families after a crash; if you have questions, reach out when you are ready.

For a free case review, call (888) 551-3865 or visit Dunk Law Firm. Help is available 24/7, with no upfront attorney fees. Ask about the written fee agreement and case expenses.

You do not need to have every document ready to ask an initial question.

Sources

Sources checked November 12, 2026, 7:02 p.m. CST.

  1. KWTX: 79-year-old Temple man dies after being struck by SUV in Bell County, DPS says — first published Nov. 11, 2026, 9:28 p.m. Central (datePublished metadata 2026-11-12T03:28:53.926Z); cites DPS
  2. KCEN: Texas DPS identifies victim in deadly vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash in Bell County — published Nov. 12, 2026, 10:59 a.m. Central; cites DPS (Tegna page unreadable to box curl; re-read via WebFetch Nov. 12, 2026, evening CST)
  3. KCEN: Bell County Sheriff's Office investigates Temple crash — published Nov. 11, 2026, 9:10 p.m. Central; cites the Bell County Sheriff's Office (Tegna page unreadable to box curl; re-read via WebFetch Nov. 12, 2026, evening CST)
  4. KXXV: Deadly crash involving pedestrian closes portion of State Highway 53 — published Nov. 11, 2026, 9:24 p.m. Central; updated Nov. 12, 10:44 a.m. Central; cites the Bell County Sheriff's Office and officials
  5. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003 — filing period
  6. Texas CPRC §71.004 and §71.010 — who may sue; damages
  7. Texas CPRC §33.001 — proportionate responsibility
  8. TxDOT: Crash reports and records
  9. TxDOT CRIS purchase site

The images with this article are AI-generated editorial illustrations, not photographs of the actual scene.

Attorney advertising. General information, not legal advice. No outcome is guaranteed, and contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. This report does not imply representation of anyone involved. Attorney review or approval is not claimed. Responsible attorney: Orville Dunk.