UPDATE: Officials have identified the man killed in a crash involving a large service truck in Bell County.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, 50-year-old Vernon Richard Loechel of Belton was driving westbound when his vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with the trash truck. The force of the crash sent the truck into a local food mart.
Officials confirmed Loechel died at the scene. The driver of the trash truck suffered injuries and is continuing to recover.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
_____________________________________-
One person died Wednesday when a trash truck and car collided on a Bell County road, sending the truck crashing into a business near Belton.
The Bell County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened around 12:30 p.m. on Farm to Market 439 between Wildwood Drive and Spring Canyon Road.
A Pure Sanitation Services trash truck and passenger car collided, sending the truck into the Lake Food Mart.
A driver died at the scene, and a person inside the food mart had minor injuries.
As of 3:00 p.m. FM 439 remains closed to eastbound and westbound traffic.
The Texas Department of Public Safety-Highway Patrol is leading the investigation.
