Connie Werner Obituary, Death – A tragic two-vehicle collision occurred Saturday morning in a construction zone south of Amarillo in Potter County, resulting in one fatality and leaving another individual critically injured. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) provided details on the incident, which took place around 10:45 a.m. on May 25.
The accident involved a 2001 Ford F-150 and a 2024 Hyundai Tucson, both traveling northbound on SL 335, approximately 0.8 miles south of Amarillo. According to the DPS, the driver of the Ford F-150, Daniel Contreras, 49, from Amarillo, pulled over onto the shoulder and attempted an unsafe U-turn on the downhill side of a bridge. This maneuver placed the pickup directly in the path of the Hyundai Tucson, driven by Connie Werner, 51, of Spearman.
Werner tried to avoid a collision by swerving left into the southbound lane but was unable to prevent the crash. The impact caused significant damage to both vehicles. Unfortunately, Werner was pronounced dead at the scene by Potter County Justice of the Peace Robert Taylor.
Contreras sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to Amarillo Northwest Texas Hospital, where he remained in critical condition as of Monday. It was reported that neither driver was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
The speed limit in the construction zone was posted at 60 mph, and weather conditions were dry and clear at the time of the crash. The DPS continues to investigate the incident to determine further details.
