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Mother of I-35 accident victim says daughter lived for her kids
Brandee Thorpe’s whole life was her children, her mother said today, the morning after the Hillsboro woman, her two children and a friend were killed while walking on the Interstate 35 access road near West.
Thorpe, a 20-year-old single mother, worked at a Sonic restaurant in Hillsboro to provide for her young son and daughter, Austyn Fontenot, 2, and Kinzee Fontenot, 1, said Robin Thorpe of Houston. A 2006 Midway High School graduate, Brandee Thorpe had moved to Hillsboro about four months ago, she said.
“She was a wonderful mom,” said her mother, adding that what made her daughter happiest in life was hearing her children call her “mama.”
Brandee Thorpe was visiting her sister Thursday evening in the Waco area, her mother said. Because she did not own a vehicle, a friend had driven her, she said.
That friend, identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as Gregory Howell, 25, of Robinson, was driving Brandee Thorpe and the children back to Hillsboro when his vehicle broke down, Robin Thorpe said. DPS Senior Cpl. Charlie Morgan said it was a white pickup truck, which was found parked near the accident scene.
The accident happened shortly before 10 p.m on the northbound access road near Wiggins Road, a few miles south of West, Morgan said. After the truck broke down, the group apparently walked through the ditch beside the interstate and up onto the access road, Morgan said.
They were walking south on the two-way road when a 2003 Chevrolet SUV came over a rise and hit them from behind, he said.
“They hadn’t gotten far when they were hit,” Morgan said.
Robin Thorpe said her daughter was holding Kinzee at the time of the accident, while Howell was holding Austyn. Thorpe and Kinzee were hit first, she said. Howell and the little boy were then hit, causing them to be thrown about 100 feet. They were found in the ditch, she said.
Because the accident happened late at night, the road was very dark, Morgan said. The interstate was slightly more illuminated, he said, but there are no lights in that portion of either roadway, he said.
The speed limit on the access road is 55 mph. Morgan said officers have no information to indicate that the driver of the SUV, a West woman, was speeding. Morgan said he was not certain whether the driver or someone else alerted authorities to the accident. But the driver did stop at the scene, he said, adding that her vehicle was pretty much totaled.
No charges against the driver are being considered at this time, Morgan said.
Thursday night’s accident is not the first time the Thorpe family has experienced tragedy on Interstate 35, Robin Thorpe said. In March 2003, another of her daughters died in a vehicle crash near Waxahachie, she said.
Funeral arrangements for Thorpe and her children are pending at Pecan Grove Funeral Home in Robinson. The Tribune-Herald has not yet gotten information about arrangements for Howell.
Permalink | Comments (34) | Post your comment | Categories: Police & crime, Traffic
Comments
By Fred
August 28, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
IH35 is so damned dangerous. If you break down on IH35 get far away from your car and call a wrecker. Yesterday I saw an idiot trying to change a flat on IH35. He was lucky that he wasn’t killed.
By Robert
August 28, 2008 10:54 PM | Link to this
I’d encourage anyone with car trouble on I-35 to take Fred’s advice on this one.
By Pam
August 28, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this
I-35 is just a straight “race track!” Especially with the posted speed limits and the actual speed everyone is going. When entering I-35, a person gets the feeling that it’s “everyone for themself!” I actually try to avoid I-35 any way I can, even by staying on the access road, where I feel much safer.
With the many distractions inside the vehicle, one wonders why they would drive faster and cut down the reaction time a driver would have to react. I really believe that the speed postings are way out of hand, and if they were to be brought back down there would be less lives lost.
By payattention
August 28, 2008 11:49 PM | Link to this
How do you feel safer on the access road? This happened ON THE ACCESS ROAD!
By Robert
August 29, 2008 12:09 AM | Link to this
It’s even worse in Austin…. i’m sick of it here. I’m transferring my job to Waco soon…… i’m ready for no traffic…and cheap cost of living… woo hoo
By apple
August 29, 2008 1:30 AM | Link to this
the most dangerous ones are the dumb impatient ones - drive smartly and also those 18-wheelers man those are buildings on wheels with lots of impact, scary.
By Dragonslayer
August 29, 2008 4:22 AM | Link to this
It’s a tragic loss of life in this accident, but it’s a case of poor judgement, common sense would be to stay far enough off the roadway so that you would be out of danger of an oncoming vehicle, recently on my way to work about 6 am there was a guy walking north on the southbound access road south of Elm Mott, walking ON the roadway, if I had not been very alert at that time of the morning this could have resulted in the same outcome as this accident, please drivers and pedestrians, let’s all try to be more careful, and it would’nt hurt if the State and Federal goverment used a little common sense and LOWERED the speed limits! Thousands of LIVES could be save each year, not taking into account the thousands of gallons of gasoline!
By KitKat
August 29, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
I HATE I-35 and try myself to avoid it all the time. People drive way to fast and I just tell them go around as*hole see you up front in a wreck. I feel so sorry for these people and babies. I guess he did not want to walk and leaave them behind so its good that now they are all still together. I hope they all went peacefully and with God. God bless them all as they go up to heaven and there familes as they grieve the loss. People out there in the fast lane on I-35 slow down and think this COULD have been your family.
By PrayersforallInvolved
August 29, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
While there will be alot of name calling, finger pointing and blame in this situation this is a time for prayer for all of those involved in this tragic situation. I did not know the family killed but I did know very well the woman driving the vehicle. As you can very well imagine, her entire life and that of her family has been turned upside down. No one knows why that family was walking in the middle of the road at dark, no one knows how fast the car was traveling (but even at the posted speed limit this would be a terrible tragedy) - Right now is not the time for rude comments, or blame right now is the time for prayers and compassion.
By Carrie
August 29, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
This is my husbands cousins kids. The father was not there. This family and exstended family has been through so much already. My prayers are with you all. You will be missed Brandee, kiss the babes. They are all so young to leave so soon.
By Aimee
August 29, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
This is such a tragedy. I have known Brandee since she was a little girl. You will be missed as will you children. My prayers go to all of the families in this situation.
By Lola
August 29, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
To the families and friends of the victims involved in this fatal accident, my thoughts and prayers are with you. May God bring you comfort during this sorrowful and dark time in your lives.
To the driver of the automobile and her family and friends…my thoughts and prayers are with you, as well. I can’t even begin to imagine how you all must feel. I am so sorry that you had to go through something this tragic. No one deserves to go through something like this. God has a plan…and in his plan, we all have a purpose. Trust in the Lord. The power of prayer is tremendous and perhaps, through enough prayers, our hopes for a miracle will be answered and the driver of the vehicle will be able to live her life without too much guilt and be able to move forward with her life.
It’s probably not fair to say that this tragedy should be looked at as a “lesson” to be learned. It was truly an accident, and no one should be at fault. Accidents happen every moment of every day. It’s a part of life and our humanly imperfections. Please, before any of you decide to post any rude or untactful messages about this horrible tragedy, please think twice. Put yourself in the shoes of all of the families and friends involved. No one deserves anyones judgements or rude comments. At this time, they only need our prayers.
Again, my thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims, families and friends involved in this tragic accident.
By Ed Echols
August 29, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
To God be the glory. It is always a mystery why these things happen to good people. It is something that only God can answer. I pray for that family and the woman who hit them. Both families are suffering. It is amazing just at that time all of this took place. For the car to break down. For them to get upon the road at that exact time and for that car to come over the rise. We never will know why.
By Ed Echols
August 29, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
To God be the glory. It is always a mystery why these things happen to good people. It is something that only God can answer. I pray for that family and the woman who hit them. Both families are suffering. It is amazing just at that time all of this took place. For the car to break down. For them to get upon the road at that exact time and for that car to come over the rise. We never will know why.
By Darlene
August 29, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
Why has society became so rude and mean? Does anyone have compassion anymore? This was a horrible tragic accident that happened. Four people lost their lives and one person is going to have to live with this the rest of their life. I can’t believe some of the comments on here. It sickens me to read how ruthless some people can be. Try to imagine what these families are going through right now. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families involved in the tragic accident.
By P. Flowers
August 29, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved in this tragedy. God will take care of all of you. As He will take care of Brandee and her children and Mr. Howell. I don’t know any of you; but, I can imagine the pain for the families of all involved. God be with you all.
By Layla
August 29, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
I just don’t understand why anybody would point the finger. We are human, we make mistakes and will continue, it’s just something that we do sometimes. My sympathy goes out to everyone involved. This is a time for prayer not judgement.
By Jessica
August 29, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
How very sad, another daughter gone & babies out of this poor womans life…. God bless them.
By heather
August 29, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
I would like to send my deepest sympathy to the family that has suffered such a great loss. I know that this can be a very hard time for anyone. I agree with one of the other comments that was posted….this is not a time to make excuses or point the finger. All of the should ofs, would ofs, and could ofs will not change the fact that this tragedy happened. We should all remember to keep everyone envolve in this tragedy in our prayers. To the family of the driver: I know your daughter and i can only imagine the pain that you must been feeling right now. Time will make things better but it will never go away. TO all envolved…..Never forget the good times and keep the ones that you love alive with good memories. Time will heal things but the pain will never go away.
By Stacie
August 29, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this
Brandee was my best friend. Austyn and Kinzee were like my neice and nephew.
I can not believe they have passed. I can not believe that some people would say the things that they have said.
These people meant alot to me. Brandee and I have been through alot. When her sister passed away I was there for her, because a couple of months before that I lost my grandpa, thats when we got close. We shared so many memories together from that moment we connected. After she moved to West with Austyn to her b/f’s house, we talked but i never had the money at that time to go see her like i wished. Now i regret it.
I saw her a couple of weeks ago, we were going over all the fun times we had, like we did everytime we hung out. I didnt know that was going to be the last time I saw her. I can’t believe this happened. But it just goes to show that God moves in mysterious ways, we can’t ask why because we will never know, until our day comes. I’m happy that she left this world with her babies. She left with her whole world, and they left with theirs. Im happy that Kinzee and Austyn were not left mother-less, and Brandee wasn’t left without her children. Everything that happened last night, happened at an exact time. Everything happened for a reason. Brandee touched my life, as well did her kids. See I’m 4 months pregnant, I know how much her kids meant to her, and when I told her I was pregnant she could not wait til I had mine, so our kids could play together and grow up together. It is so hard to write this, I keep stopping to cry. She touched my stomach and said she couldn’t wait.
Give those beautiful blue eyed babies a hug and a kiss for me. And give Jessica a big hug, I know you missed her. I will be thinkin about you everday. I wish my baby grew to know you and those happy babies. Rest in Peace, all of you.
And for the woman who hit them, I forgive you. It was in God’s plan. I can only imagine what you are going through. I will be praying for you, I know you will need it. Life can change in an instant, I have learned not to take life for granted, anything can happen. My prayers go out to Brandee’s family, as well as yours.
Always, Stacie
By Jorie
August 29, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this
Im sorry for your loss i know how it is dangerous and im a good friend of Brendees sister and i have known her for a while i will be praying and if you need anything just let me know
By Jorie
August 29, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this
Im sorry for your loss i know how it is dangerous and im a good friend of Brendees sister and i have known her for a while i will be praying and if you need anything just let me know
By Jorie
August 29, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this
Im sorry for your loss i know how it is dangerous and im a good friend of Brendees sister and i have known her for a while i will be praying and if you need anything just let me know
By Linda
August 29, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this
This is to Brandee’s family and friends. There are no words that can comfort anyone at this time but my thoughts are with you. I am his Aunt and I live in florida and wish I could be there for my sister and brother in law. Gregory Howell is “Marty ” to us all. He was a very affectionate young man and he would do anything for anyone. He was the type of person who would give his shirt just to anyone. I miss you marty and I am so sorry. I did not know brandi and her kids but by everyone’s words she was a great woman with great kids. I have talked to Marty’s mom Debbie and John yet but I wish they would call us soon. Our family just like Brandi’s family have lost so much. We have lost a mom to cancer on August 1988, a sister to a drunk driver in August of 1989, a brother who life was taken in 1992, Our dad who died of 7 strokes in November 2004 and our sister to cancer in december 2004. We are here for Brandi’s family. Please stay strong and I know it is. those poor babies never had a chance but now they do with god. My thoughts are with you and with you Debbie and John. Marty I miss you.
By sad
August 29, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
Prayersforallinvolved- Why are you trying to push all the fault of this accident onto the people that were walking. What was the problem of the driver …people’s reaction time is faster than a single blink of the eye. If the driver was paying attention…than as soon as she came over the hill she could have swerved out of the way or atleast made some attempt..not hit the mother and the child she was carring and then continue to drive and hit the man carring the toddler. Seems to me she wasn’t paying attention to the road. But only God and the driver really knows what actually happened not me and not you. You don’t know if they were in the middle of the road only that you heard they were. You are alive your friend the driver of the vehicle is alive. The people that got hit and killed are not…they aren’t here to defend themselves. They had two young children with them, their cell phone battery died, it was very dark, so they made the best decision they could. They were young adults they tried. So how about you get off their aZZ and quit trying to throw the blame on them.
By Linda
August 29, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this
This is to Brandee’s family and friends. There are no words that can comfort anyone at this time but my thoughts are with you. I am his Aunt and I live in florida and wish I could be there for my sister and brother in law. Gregory Howell is “Marty ” to us all. He was a very affectionate young man and he would do anything for anyone. He was the type of person who would give his shirt just to anyone. I miss you marty and I am so sorry. I did not know brandi and her kids but by everyone’s words she was a great woman with great kids. I have talked to Marty’s mom Debbie and John yet but I wish they would call us soon. Our family just like Brandi’s family have lost so much. We have lost a mom to cancer on August 1988, a sister to a drunk driver in August of 1989, a brother who life was taken in 1992, Our dad who died of 7 strokes in November 2004 and our sister to cancer in december 2004. We are here for Brandi’s family. Please stay strong and I know it is. those poor babies never had a chance but now they do with god. My thoughts are with you and with you Debbie and John. Marty I miss you.
By Linda
August 29, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this
This is to Brandee’s family and friends. There are no words that can comfort anyone at this time but my thoughts are with you. I am his Aunt and I live in florida and wish I could be there for my sister and brother in law. Gregory Howell is “Marty ” to us all. He was a very affectionate young man and he would do anything for anyone. He was the type of person who would give his shirt just to anyone. I miss you marty and I am so sorry. I did not know brandi and her kids but by everyone’s words she was a great woman with great kids. I have talked to Marty’s mom Debbie and John yet but I wish they would call us soon. Our family just like Brandi’s family have lost so much. We have lost a mom to cancer on August 1988, a sister to a drunk driver in August of 1989, a brother who life was taken in 1992, Our dad who died of 7 strokes in November 2004 and our sister to cancer in december 2004. We are here for Brandi’s family. Please stay strong and I know it is. those poor babies never had a chance but now they do with god. My thoughts are with you and with you Debbie and John. Marty I miss you.
By Linda
August 29, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
No more fighting about who’s to blame. In knowing my nephew “Marty’ Gregory Howell he did the best thing and that is too take them with him and not having those kids and Brandee standed in a car until he would come back. To the driver I just hope you were not on a cell phone or drinking. I forgive you. He was a gentlemen and “awesome” with kids. i know that Brandees and Marty decision was the right one. Those poor kids and that’s what they were kids. All of them. Please do not fight it’s not worth it. Marty I am so sorry I did not go to the family reunion last month. I love you and always will. Again, Brandee I wish I got to meet you.
Linda Kirwan
By Debra
August 29, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
I am also an aunt to Marty Howell,my husband and Marty’s mother are brother and sister. Thank you so much for the people who said kind things. It means so much. For those of you who didn’t, you are the ones that I point a finger at. Do you not think when you write these things that family and friends won’t read them? But I guess it’s the way of the world and it doesn’t change the outcome of this tragedy. Marty was a very loving person. He loved children and made every one of his nieces, nephew and younger cousins feel special. I agree with my sister in law Linda, I know that Marty was concerned for Brandee and the kid’s safety, that’s why they left the vehicle.
Marty, we’ll miss you forever. How grateful I am that we spent time with you last month. We’ll miss your laugh, your accent and especially the twinkle in your eye when you were telling a joke or a funny story. Debbie, John, DeeDee and Jamie, I am so sorry. That just feels like such an inadequate thing to say. It doesn’t even begin to cover the situation. Please know that Gale, Paige, Troy and I love you, we loved Marty and our heart breaks for you all. For Brandee and the babies family and also for the driver and her family, my prayers are with you.
By samantha
August 29, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this
I just want to say to everyone that its a tragedy the lives that were lost in this accident but as many have already said, God has a plan we just dont konw it yet. Im a close friend of Brandees family her younger sister is my very best friend. my heart goes out to the womans family, its no ones fault and no one should be playing the blame game. Brandee’ and her two beautiful children will be missed dearly, they touched alot of lives. I just want to say thank you to all the wonderful people that are praying for there family. they need all the prayers they can get in this time of grief. Even tho they were all so young, i believe the lord took them to watch over the rest of us because he knows what good hearts they all have. altho i did not know martin personally, in the few times i met him i could see he truly cared for Brandee’ and her babies. i know they are in a better place now. my heart is with you. R.I.P. Brandee’, Kinzee’, and Austyn. you are loved dearly and will be missed incredibly. love always Samantha
By Kay
August 31, 2008 9:13 PM | Link to this
It’s a road and cars and trucks drive on it ! Why couldn’t they stay in the car and call someone, or at least one person walk and get help ! This was a stupid and deadly thing to do !
By What
September 2, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
Wow Kay how rude are you! Their cell phone battery died. They panicked I’m sure. They made a bad decision. Your intelligence must be superior to be able to point that out after the fact. These young people’s families are reading this and they don’t need your ignorant comments..have some respect. Have you not made a bad decision in your life.
By Tamilyn Gollihar
September 3, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this
Wow I just got the news today, and I have had cold chills since. Bradee and I went to school together at Midway, played on the same basketball team, and for awhile were insepreable. I can re-call one time when Brandee came to spend the night and ended up stayin a total of 21 days, we would call and beg Robin (her mother) right before she would be coming to pick her up. Brandee is the type of friend you never forget, she always wore a smile and ensured that you did too! I moved from Waco towards the end of my senior year, and really lost touch with most everyone, so I never had the joy of meeting her children; however I am certain they were angels! My prayers and deepest thoughts are with her family and friends. Brandee is loved by so many and missed by even more! Although this is a tradgedy I know Brandee is reuniting with her sister Jessica and showing off her beautiful children, I bet she is even laughing it up with her favorite coach, my dad, who passed away March of 2006. Those two always had a blast. I can only wish I would have kept contact, and stress to all who read this the importance of keeping up with those who trulyt made an impression on your heart!
By Joanne
September 4, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
I am Marty’s aunt Jo-sister to his mother Debbie. I am so glad that we were able to spend sometime with Marty and his family in the last few months. Losing Marty has been the most devastating thing that has happened to our entire family. Marty was a fun loving & giving young man and precious to his family. It speaks volumes that Marty was concerned for the safety of the babies he was with that He wanted to protect them and not leave them in a car that could get hit on the road. He had no idea that the driver of the SUV would mow them down on the side road. I am praying for Marty’s family, Brandee’s family and yes even the driver of the SUV. I pray that someday all families could come together and really know what happened as only the driver knows. But this is the time to wrap each other in God’s love, hugs and saying prayers not pointing blame on who or why. Please continue to send cards, or food & support to help the families affected by this tragedy. Marty-my prayer for you is please watch over your mom Debbbie, dad John, sister DeeDee, brother James & family and friends from Heaven. Love you, your aunt Jo