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DPS Trooper: Man was texting seconds before head-on crash

COPPERAS COVE — Bryan James Rhudy was texting just seconds before striking Roseann Lucidi, 65, in a head on collision, according to an affidavit written by a DPS Trooper. He is now in Coryell County Jail.

The crash happened in January, but Rhudy wasn't taken into custody until March 23. A DPS spokesman told Channel 6 Rhudy was taken into custody by a DPS trooper after a routine traffic stop. Coryell County had a warrant out for Rhudy's arrest.

The crash happened on the Highway 190 bypass near Clements/Parsons Elementary School in Copperas Cove on Jan. 17th. The affidavit said there were no skid marks on the scene, which indicated Rhudy was distracted. It said he hit Roseann Lucidi head on. Lucidi was transported from the scene, and died due to injuries sustained on Jan 30th. She passed away at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple, leaving behind a husband, daughter, two grandchildren, a brother and sister, according to a family friend.

The Lucidi family has hired a lawyer from the Law Offices of Vic Feazell in Waco. The lawyer handling the case would not comment, but Vic Feazell did tell Channel 6 the firm has many cases where texting and driving is an issue.

"We handle hundreds of cases, but we'll see 10 cases a year where there is texting involved. Keep in mind, we're not seeking records on those hundreds of cases, only 80 or 90 a year, " Feazell said. "I'd say ten percent of the time, maybe a little more, texting is involved."

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