DPS releases Round Mountain accident victims names

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers have released the names of a driver and his passenger killed in a fatal accident near Round Mountain Monday, July 3.

Richard Purpura, 69, of Blanco, and his mother, Anne Purpura, 99, also of Blanco, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred after DPS troopers had attempted to stop Purpura's grey Honda as it sped northbound on US 281 in Blanco County, not far from the Burnet County line, at 11:30 a.m. Monday.

“According to the preliminary investigation, the Honda entered the trooper’s lane of traffic, as the DPS patrol unit was traveling in the opposite direction on the same roadway,” according to a statement released by DPS Staff Sgt. Robbie Barrera. “The Trooper’s emergency vehicle equipment was activated and the driver of the car refused to stop, continuing to travel northbound.”

“At approximately 11:32 a.m., the evading vehicle struck two other vehicles that were traveling in the opposite direction. As a result of the crash, both the driver and passenger of the evading vehicle were pronounced deceased at the scene.”

The driver of one of the other vehicles was transported to Seton Hospital Austin with non-life threatening injures, and the other driver was treated and released at the scene. The DPS state reconstruction team is conducting an ongoing investigation into the accident.

It is unknown whether Purpura or his mother were having a medical emergency at the time of the accident, which could have caused them to not see the pursuing troopers.