Winter Texan victim of traffic accident

Driver didn't see man in darkness

No citations issued

 

By Michael Cary

South Jetty reporter

An elderly Winter Texan from Swea City, Iowa, was struck and killed by a pickup truck during an early morning accident on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

Marlin Hardt, 86, was transported to North Bay Hospital in Aransas Pass, where he died of his injuries after the accident, which occurred at 5:30 a.m. in the 400 block of Cut-off Road in Port Aransas.

The driver of the Ford F-150 was 18-year-old Timothy Gould of Port Aransas who was on his way to work when the man attempted to run across the street during a moderate, early morning rainfall.

Neither excessive speed nor alcohol was involved in the accident.

Lt. James Stokes, acting Port Aransas police chief, said Hardt was a guest along with his wife in an RV park off Cut-off Road.

“He was transported by EMS to the hospital in Aransas Pass, and he later died from his injuries,” Stokes said.

“The victim was wearing dark-colored clothing in the rain and the darkness, and he (the driver) just didn’t see him in time. The kid was really beside himself,” the chief said.

Stokes said Hardt was en route to a restaurant that serves breakfast early in the morning.

“He was running across the street, trying to get to the restaurant and out of the rain. It was cut and dry, an unfortunate accident,” Stokes said.