As investigators work through recreations of a string of collisions, more details have emerged about the victims. In less than a two week period in May, main roadway arteries in the Marble Falls area have proven to be deadly.
Authorities reported five people killed in a head-on collision Sunday, May 17 on U.S. 281 in the south end of the city. The report comes on the heels of at least two other unrelated fatalities on FM 1431 in or near Kingsland, several miles west of Marble Falls.
U.S. 281 Fatality
According to the Marble Falls Police Department, a couple and two children died in Sunday’s collision, along with the elderly driver of the pickup which contributed to the crash.
That crash, involving three vehicles, was reported just before 5 p.m. in the 3100 block of South U.S. 281.
“Following an extensive investigation, officers determined that a black Nissan pickup truck, driven by 80-year-old Antonio Lara of Lago Vista, was traveling northbound on South U.S. Highway 281 when, for reasons currently unknown, the vehicle crossed into the southbound lanes of traffic,” said Capt. James Cole, offering details about contributing factors. “The Nissan first sideswiped the rear left quarter panel of a white BMW hatchback.”
The BMW’s occupants – 29-year-old Lance Benick, 27-yearold Hannah Benick and their 8-month-old son, all of Austin – were not seriously injured as their car sustained minor damage, officials said.
The Nissan pickup then continued northbound in the southbound lanes and collided headon with a silver Hyundai hatchback, the preliminary report stated.
The occupants of the Hyundai – 50-year-old Roxanne Mowrey of Bertram, 55-year-old Ron Dykes and two girls, ages 3 and 5 – died at the scene. The children were described by loved ones as Mowrey’s family members.
Overlook Crash
Just 24 hours earlier around 5 p.m.another collision involving at least two vehicles resulted in the death of a man on RM 1431 in Kingsland at the Scenic Overlook ( Lookout Mountain).
“On May 16, 2026, at approximately 3:56 p.m., Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers responded to a three-vehicle crash on Ranch to Market Road 1431 in Burnet County,” said Texas DPS Sgt. Billy Ray, III. “The preliminary investigation indicates a Ford F-150 was traveling eastbound on RM 1431 when, for unknown reasons, it crossed into the westbound lanes of traffic. The Ford F-150 first struck an Infiniti G25, causing the Infiniti to spin.
“The Ford F-150 then struck a Volvo head-on,” he stated. “The driver of the Volvo, identified as 60-year-old Richard Hausman of Kingsland, was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
(See related story on Page 1).
Ray continued: “The drivers of the Ford F-150 and Infiniti G25 were transported to an area hospital for treatment of their injuries. A passenger in the Volvo was also transported to an area hospital for treatment.”
Crash #3
Just 10 days earlier on May 7 another crash was reported on FM 1431; this time just outside Granite Shoals a few miles east of the Lookout Mountain crash.
“On May 7, 2026, at approximately 2:20 p.m., Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers responded to the 12000 block of West FM 1431 in Burnet County for a two-vehicle crash,” Ray wrote. “The preliminary investigation indicates a Jaguar SUV traveling westbound on FM 1431 crossed into the eastbound lane and struck a Honda passenger car head-on.
“The driver of the Honda, 34-year-old Breeana Saree Bent, of Marble Falls, was pronounced deceased on scene,” the report continued. “The driver of the Jaguar was transported to a local hospital to be treated for serious injuries.”
Responding agencies included Burnet County Sheriff’s Office and Granite Shoals Fire Rescue as well as Marble Falls Area EMS.
To develop a clearer picture of the causes of the crashes, DPS troopers have scheduled crash scene recreations. The process involves “systematically mapping out the exact events, DPS aims to determine the root cause, establish legal liability, support criminal prosecutions, and improve overall road safety.”
