2 motorcyclists dead after crash on Henderson County bridge crossing

NOTE: This article has been updated to correct an earlier statement by Texas Parks and Wildlife about the number of fatalities in the wreck.

HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas ( KETK ) — A body has been recovered from the Henderson County reservoir by a game warden after a Sunday night crash that also left one other dead, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said.

Officials in Henderson County responded to a vehicle crash on Sunday at around 9 p.m. on SH 198 bridge crossing Cedar Creek Reservoir near Payne Springs. The Texas Parks and Wildlife officials said the crash involved a vehicle and three motorcycles.

According to a preliminary report from DPS, a 2022 GMC 2500 pickup was driving north on SH 198 on the wrong side of the road, when it hit a motorcycle headed south. Another motorcycle was hit by debris in the wreck before the pickup reportedly hit a third motorcycle, causing the driver to be thrown over the bridge and into the water.

“The pickup was on the wrong side of the road and struck the first motorcycle and then the second motorcycle was hit by debris and then the pickup continued on striking third motorcycle,” Sgt. Chris Williamson with DPS said.

Williamson also confirmed that there was not a blood sample or breath test taken of the driver of the truck and was unable to confirm if any charges will be made.

“It’s still really early on if there are charges it’s going to be something that we’d like to share at a later time,”

Officials said one motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene and a search started for the other motorcyclist in the water.

After calling the search off late in the night, wardens resumed their search efforts Monday morning where they reportedly recovered the second victim at 11 a.m.

The two people who died in the crash were identified by DPS as 52-year-old John Berkley of Athens, and 32-year-old Levi Lott of Tyler.

“Had four fire agencies, Henderson County SPO, Texas DPS the Texas Game Wardens were there as well, and then we had multiple other PD agencies,” Cory Abbe, of the Log Cabin Fire Department, said

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