German tourist fatally struck by semi on U.S. 175 at the State Highway 334 overpass, says police
GUN BARREL CITY, TX, (August 19, 2024) - The Gun Barrel City Police Department is actively looking for a semi-truck driver involved in the hit-and-run death of a German resident who was in the country on a tour.
Rick Mueller, a 30-year-old German resident, was struck and killed by a semi-truck in Gun Barrel City Monday afternoon, according to police.
A preliminary investigation, including a witness report, found that a man was riding a bicycle along U.S. Highway 175 at the State Highway 334 overpass when, around 4 p.m. Monday, a semi-truck struck him from behind. The truck driver did not stop; instead, they continued into Eustace.
Tragically, the bicyclist, identified as 30-year-old Rick Mueller, died from injuries.
Officials said the German man was touring across the country, stopping at various historical sites and meeting people.
Any tips can be shared with the police at 903-887-7151.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Bicyclists are particularly vulnerable on the road, and motorists should always be cautious around them.
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), from 2007 to 2018, 8,908 cyclists have died across the U.S.
Candice Bond, an experienced tractor-trailer accident attorney, says investigations into semi-truck crashes require a variety of resources. Representing a grieving client’s family, an attorney can investigate the accident scene, closely examine the rig, the trucker’s, and the trucking company’s logbooks and other records, to get hold of important evidence.
“A skilled attorney can protect a grieving family from trucking companies, which often send their investigators to crash sites and possess a variety of resources they can utilize to defend a negligent truck driver,” added Bond, a Managing Partner with Bond Legal.
Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Newsline, noted that in cases such as this, it is important to have an independent investigation conducted sooner than later to preserve any evidence.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the results of any investigations, the family members of Rick Mueller may be entitled to a wrongful death claim. Survivors of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a tragic accident such as this incident.
Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal, said, “Grieving families of victims are sometimes overwhelmed by the legal processes that are in place to protect their rights.”
“An attorney can be a valuable and compassionate resource to help guide a family during this difficult time, and ensure that those left behind receive the restitution they are entitled to.”
If your loved one has been killed by a hit-and-run driver and would like a no-cost consultation, please contact our national legal analysts Candice Bond and Stefano Formica today
(Candice Bond, Managing Partner, and Stefano Formica, Of Counsel, at Bond Legal, are the national legal analysts for Newsline. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).