One Dead in Bell County Crash

80-year-old man killed after running stop sign, colliding with van

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A two-vehicle crash in Bell County, Texas has left one person dead. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, an 80-year-old man driving a Chevrolet pickup truck ran a stop sign and collided with a Ford Transit van, resulting in the death of the pickup truck driver.

Why it matters

Traffic accidents are a leading cause of injury and death in the United States, especially for older drivers. This incident highlights the importance of obeying traffic signals and the risks posed by driver error, which can have tragic consequences.

The details

The crash occurred on Friday, February 6th, 2026 around 1:24pm on TX-53 east of Temple near Little Flock Road. The 80-year-old pickup truck driver, John Reed Hopkins of Temple, was traveling northbound on Little Flock Road and failed to stop at a stop sign, entering the intersection and colliding with an eastbound Ford Transit van. Hopkins and the 25-year-old van driver were both transported to a local hospital, where Hopkins later died from his injuries.

  • The crash occurred on Friday, February 6th, 2026 around 1:24pm.

The players

John Reed Hopkins

An 80-year-old man from Temple, Texas who was driving the Chevrolet pickup truck involved in the fatal crash.

Ford Transit Van Driver

A 25-year-old driver of the Ford Transit van involved in the collision with Hopkins' pickup truck.

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What’s next

The crash investigation remains active and ongoing, and a completed copy of the crash report will be available through Texas.gov.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the importance of safe driving practices, especially for older drivers, and the need to follow all traffic signals and signs to prevent devastating collisions.