Darwin Roadkill 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
Fort Worth Star Telegram, Ft. Worth Tx.
Posted on Wed, Jan. 08, 2003
Driver struck, killed during road-rage incident
By Gale M. Bradford
Special to the Star-Telegram
In a bizarre case of road rage, a 20-year-old Poolville man was struck and killed north of Weatherford on Monday night after he exited his car and kicked and pounded another vehicle, state police reported Tuesday.
B.J. Justin Lundin, a food service worker, was killed instantly at 7:20 p.m. on Farm Road 920 north of Weatherford. He was struck by an oncoming car that hadn't been in the two-vehicle conflict.
"I would say that it was a road-rage situation and the worst one I've ever heard of in Parker County," said Cpl. Roger Smith of the Department of Public Safety, who investigated the accident.
James Millard Welch Jr., a 54-year-old contractor and driver of the third car, was not charged in Lundin's death, the DPS said.
Stephen Thomas Manley Jr. of Boonsville told officers that he was southbound on Farm Road 920, with Lundin following closely, when Manley tapped the brakes of his 2000 Dodge to indicate that the trailing motorist needed to back off. That apparently enraged Lundin, Smith said.
Lundin passed Manley, pulled in front of him and suddenly stopped in the road, the DPS said. Manley was forced to halt abruptly, coming within a few inches of Lundin's rear bumper.
anley rolled down his window, and Lundin attacked the other motorist's car and threw a rock at him, officers said. Manley wasn't seriously injured.
eanwhile, Welch was northbound on Farm Road 920 when he crested a hill and hit Lundin, who was still outside his car. Welch couldn't take evasive action, Smith said. Lundin's body went through Welch's windshield before it was thrown into the roadway, police said.
His body was taken to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office. Welch was cut by broken glass, treated for abrasions at Campbell Hospital in Weatherford and released.
Smith said the three men did not know each other. Manley, a pipefitter, "was just passing through on his way to Wise County," Smith said. Welch is new to the area and recently purchased about 60 acres near Poolville.
Smith, who is also president of the Poolville school board, said Lundin graduated from Poolville High School about two years ago.
Peaster volunteer fire Capt. Mike Norris, who responded to the accident scene, said: "To me, it was a big case of the brain not functioning. Road rage is that way."
Submitted on 01/08/2003
Submitted by:
c. buxton
Reference:
Fort Wth Star/Telegram 1/8/03
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