2 Killed When Vehicle Runs Stop Sign at FM 179 and FM 2641 Near Shallowater

What Happened at FM 179 and FM 2641?

At about 4 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026, a 2011 Toyota Camry traveling eastbound on FM 2641 failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection with FM 179, in northwest Lubbock County south of Shallowater, and entered the intersection, where it struck the driver’s side of a northbound 2022 Dodge Ram pickup, according to a preliminary Texas Department of Public Safety report cited by KCBD and Fox34.

The pickup’s driver, identified by DPS as Burl Trotter, 87, of Littlefield, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Camry’s driver, identified as Sammy Zapata, 19, of Lubbock, was transported to University Medical Center in Lubbock, where he later died of his injuries, according to EverythingLubbock. DPS’s preliminary report attributes the crash to the Camry failing to stop at the posted sign; FM 179 traffic at that intersection did not face a stop sign.

Stop Signs and Right-of-Way Under Texas Law

Texas law requires a driver approaching an intersection controlled by a stop sign to stop and yield the right-of-way to cross traffic that is close enough to be an immediate hazard, per Chapter 544 of the Texas Transportation Code. Whether that rule was followed in this crash, and what led the Camry into the intersection, are questions the completed DPS crash report — not early reports — will ultimately answer.

Who Can Be Affected?

A fatal intersection crash reaches an entire family. After a wreck like this, people who may have questions about their legal options can include:

• The spouse, children, and other family members of Burl Trotter — the family members Texas law recognizes in a wrongful death case
• Anyone in the family who depended on Trotter and now faces funeral costs and lost support
• The family of Sammy Zapata, who may have their own questions once the investigation is complete

What Kind of Claim Might Apply?

Attorneys who handle Texas fatal intersection-crash cases generally describe several paths that can apply once the facts are established:

• A wrongful death claim — under Chapter 71 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, the surviving spouse, children, and parents of a person killed by another’s wrongful act can generally seek compensation for their losses, and the estate can bring a survival claim for the deceased’s own damages.
• The at-fault driver’s estate and liability insurance — when the driver found responsible for a fatal crash has also died, a family’s claim typically proceeds against that driver’s estate and any applicable auto liability coverage.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage — if the at-fault driver carried no insurance or too little, UM/UIM coverage on the family’s own policy can apply. Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1952 requires insurers to offer this coverage on every Texas auto policy.

A lawyer can obtain the crash report when it is complete, preserve evidence such as nearby camera video and vehicle event data, deal with the insurance companies, and identify every source of compensation that may apply.

Why Acting Quickly Can Matter

Texas law sets deadlines. For most wrongful death and personal-injury cases, the statute of limitations is generally two years, with limited exceptions. Evidence also fades quickly: nearby camera footage is often overwritten in days or weeks, vehicle event data can be lost when vehicles are salvaged, and witness memories fade. While the DPS investigation is still open, many families have a lawyer monitoring it on their behalf. The referral and the first consultation are free.

Sources

1. KCBD — Two killed in crash in northwest Lubbock, south of Shallowater
2. Fox34 — Two killed in crash in northwest Lubbock, south of Shallowater
3. EverythingLubbock — 1 teen, 1 elderly driver killed in Lubbock County crash
4. Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 544 (Traffic-Control Devices)
5. Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, Chapter 71 (Wrongful Death; Survival)
6. Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 1952 (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage)
7. Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, Chapter 16 (Limitations)