FLASH STAFF REPORT
Updated at 12:30 p.m. on March 23 to include more information on statements from Tarleton State. The Flash reported Tarleton removed the Tweet, however, the story has been changed to include the post is still online.
STEPHENVILLE — Hours after Tarleton State won their first D1 homecoming game, first responders were dispatched to report of an accident on US 281, near the intersection with the Lingleville Highway. That accident resulted in the tragic death of a former Tarleton student – Kordell J. Stiggers, 22 of Manor.
Tarleton responded to a question asked on Twitter Monday with a statement some felt was insensitive. However, The Flash heard from Tarleton officials Tuesday who said this was only meant to be an answer to a question, not an official statement from the university, and was certainly not meant to be insensitive at all, simply an attempt to provide more information. The same official said the university waited until Tuesday, March 23, to make an official statement because of the ongoing investigation and to give the family privacy.
Whatever the case, the fact remains, Kordell Stiggers lost his life and he attended Tarleton State in Stephenville until 2018.
According to early reports, a call came into 9-1-1 shortly after 12 a.m. on Sunday, stating a driver hit something in the roadway but they were unsure what it was. Then a second call came in, this one stating a body was lying on the side of the roadway. First responders arrived on scene, blocked the roadway and called for the Justice of the Peace and DPS investigators.
The Highway Patrol report states, “at approximately 12:20 a.m. on Sunday, March 21, Texas DPS Troopers arrived one mile north of Stephenville on US 281 to investigate a fatality crash involving a pedestrian.”
The preliminary investigation report done by DPS indicates a 2012 Ford Taurus, driven northbound by Bryce M. Burrell, 27 of Stephenville, struck a pedestrian (Stiggers) who was walking in the northbound lane of travel. Burrell told investigators at the scene he was unable to see Stiggers.
Sgt. Rick Hunter with the DPS said there was “no indication of alcohol being involved with the driver of this accident.”
According to the same DPS report, Stiggers was pronounced dead at the scene. Burrell and two male passengers in his vehicle were all uninjured.
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