According to the Houston Chronicle, celebrations for a Galveston priest ended tragically when a truck struck and killed the younger brother of the priest and seriously injured another pedestrian.
The wreck occurred on the morning of June 8. Rev. John Paul Flajole was celebrating his 50th anniversary as a priest. Family from all over the country flew in to join in the festivities.
Rev. Flajole’s younger brother, Raphael Flajole, 62, of Lake Orion, Michigan, was taking photos near the stairway of Murdoch’s Souvenirs during the celebration. At around 7 a.m. a pickup truck driven by Kevin Wade Wilson, 49, turned onto Seawall Boulevard. He cut across all traffic lanes and ran onto the sidewalk where Raphael and another pedestrian were standing.
After striking both people, the truck crashed over the seawall, where it finally came to rest on the beach.
Raphael died at the scene. Shane Sabala, 48, was the second person hit by the truck. Police transported her to the John Sealy Emergency Room in serious condition.
Later in the afternoon, Galveston Police charged Wilson with manslaughter and aggravated assault. The Houston Chronicle says the police are investigating whether Wilson was intoxicated at the time of the crash. He is already on probation for a narcotics conviction.
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Friends of the family said the Flajole family is in complete shock after losing a loved one. A joyous occasion violently turned into a nightmare.
In situations such as this, it is critical for the victims to find an experienced attorney to look out for their best interests while they go through grieving process.
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