By LEW K. COHN, Inquirer Publisher
A fatal accident on Thursday, June 8 claimed the life of a tractor-trailer driver who it appears may have tried to minimize the collision he had with a vehicle near the intersection of US 90 and FM 304 in Gonzales County.
According to a Texas Department of Public Safety report summary, a Nissan passenger vehicle was southbound on FM 304 at 5:55 a.m. approaching US 90 while the tractor-trailer was eastbound on US 90 and approaching the same intersection. The intersection has a stop sign for those traveling on FM 304, while traffic on US 90 does not stop.
The Nissan failed to yield the right of way at the stop sign, and pulled into the path of the semi, which tried to avoid the car but ultimately struck the right front quarter panel of the Nissan. The Nissan spun counter-clockwise and came to rest upright on the unimproved shoulder at the intersection’s northeast corner.
The tractor-trailer rolled to the right and became detached and the truck-tractor came to rest upright on the unimproved shoulder on the north side of US 90, while the trailer came to rest in the middle of US 90 on its right side.
The driver of the rig, who was later identified as Allen Groff, 67, of Seguin, was declared dead at the scene while three passengers in the Nissan were transported by ground and air ambulance to Seton Hays Hospital.
US 90 remained closed at the intersection with FM 304 with traffic to I-10 as necessary until the scene was eventually cleared at about 2:30 p.m.
Family members of Allen Groff remembered him fondly in his obituary.
“Allen was a truck driver for over 40 years and logged over 5 million miles,” the obit said. “He had a heart of gold and put others before himself. Allen worked hard and long hours but never forgot his family. He was a loving and supportive husband and father who was happiest while spending time with his family. He also enjoyed riding his Indian motorcycle. Allen will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”
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