Unbuckled Mexia teen killed in one-car wreck

A Mexia teenager was killed Wednesday night when the driver of the SUV he was riding in took a curve too fast, rolled the vehicle and hit a tree. 

According to DPS Trooper Jason Didio, who processed the scene, the 2000 Ford Expedition was traveling west on LCR 256 about .7 miles east of Mexia at 7:15 p.m. when the driver failed to properly negotiate a curve due to unsafe speed. 

The driver, also 15, made “multiple faulty evasive maneuvers,” trying to stay on the roadway. 

The teen who died was in the front passenger seat and was not wearing a seat belt. The SUV rolled left onto its top and ended up on its left side facing east, north of the roadway, against a tree. 

He was ejected from the vehicle and ended up pinned between the vehicle’s roof and the tree. 

He was pronounced dead at the scene by Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Mike Bell at 9 p.m. 

The driver and a 15-year-old passenger, who had been in the back seat, were wearing seat belts and were uninjured and were released to their parents. 

Three other DPS officers helped process the scene, and Mexia PD officers also responded.