Belton, TX (August 22, 2026) – Two men died on Thursday, August 20, after a multi-vehicle collision on northbound Interstate 35 in Bell County.
The collision happened shortly after 8 p.m. near mile marker 294. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a 23-year-old Killeen man driving a 2016 Nissan Altima made an unsafe lane change across the northbound lanes.
The Nissan struck a 2026 Hyundai Elantra, sending the Hyundai into a guardrail. Tavarshea Daveon Sims, 31, of Killeen, was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.
Shane Demeair Taylor, 39, of Cameron, was a rear passenger in the Hyundai and was taken to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, where he later died. The Nissan driver was hospitalized with incapacitating injuries, while a female passenger in the Hyundai also sustained incapacitating injuries.
Witnesses reported that the two vehicles had been traveling at high speeds and weaving around slower traffic before the accident. According to DPS, Sims was not wearing a seat belt. The investigation into the fatal wreck is continuing.
Our condolences go to the families and loved ones of Sims and Taylor.
What Makes High-Speed Multi-Vehicle Accidents So Dangerous?
High-speed multi-vehicle accidents can cause severe injuries because vehicles have less time to react and require greater stopping distance. A sudden lane change can leave nearby drivers with very little time to avoid another vehicle.
Speed also increases the amount of energy involved when vehicles strike one another or roadside objects. This can lead to greater vehicle damage and more severe injuries, particularly when occupants are not properly restrained.
Weaving between lanes adds another risk because drivers may have difficulty judging the speed and position of nearby vehicles. Safe lane changes require checking surrounding traffic, signaling early, and moving only when there is enough space. Seat belts also provide important protection by helping keep occupants inside the vehicle during a collision.
