Abilene Man Killed When Semi Crushes Pickup on Rain Slicked Roadway

HAWLEY, TX – An Abilene man was killed Monday after a crash with a semi-truck at a rural intersection north of Hawley.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, on Oct. 23, 2023, at around 6:00 p.m., DPS Troopers were dispatched to the intersection of State Highway 92 and FM 1661, just 1 mile north of Hawley, for the report of a major crash.

Once on the scene, the Troopers found a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2023 Kenworth truck tractor towing a semi-trailer. The driver of the Chevy was pronounced dead on the scene by Justice of the Peace Cheryl Guernsey. He has been identified as Kevin Sallas, 49, of Abilene. It is unknown if Sallas was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

The truck driver was a 38-year-old man from Tallassee, AL. He was uninjured in the crash.

The DPS determined during their investigation that the Chevy was traveling south on FM 1661, approaching the intersection of SH 92 controlled by stop signs for south and north traffic. The Semi was traveling west on SH 92 approaching the intersection with FM 1661. The driver of the Chevy failed to yield the right of way to the Semi. The Semi struck the Chevy.

At the time of the crash, the road was wet from the rain. At the location, the speed limit is posted at 75 mph.