A Fischer business owner who warned officials of dangerous conditions at the intersection of FM 32 and FM 3424 lost his brother Saturday in a horrific car accident just a half mile east on FM 32.
There is no stoplight at the busy intersection.
According to details provided by Michael Harwell, Freddie Lenn Harwell of Spring Branch was killed in a head-on collision when the driver of a white Ford pickup truck pulling an enclosed trailer allegedly lost control of his vehicle on a curve and slammed into Harwell’s black Chevrolet pickup.
His wife, Vicki Harwell, survived the crash.
Michael Harwell said the driver of the white pickup truck told him he was making a delivery to Lockhart for his boss and lost control after his trailer locked up.
FM 32 was closed for over three hours after the collision.
“Devil’s highway has won for now,” Harwell said in an email. FM 32 runs past the Devil’s Backbone Overlook, a scenic limestone ridge with a reputation for being haunted.
This was the third accident on FM 32 Saturday.
Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds said there was a major accident at FM 32 and N. Cranes Mill Road after a vehicle failed to yield the right of way, causing the other vehicle to crash into a ditch brush line.
Another major accident was reported at FM 32 and FM 484 when a vehicle failed to yield right of way and hit another vehicle, pushing it into another vehicle.
Michael Harwell owns a site development company at the intersection of FM 32 and FM 3424, and his security camera points right at the intersection.
So far this year, it has captured two major non-fatality accidents.
On May 4, an Austin Police Department Det. Israel Garcia was killed approximately 1,500 feet east of the intersection after his motorcycle struck a wild hog, Harwell said.
“You can see why people fly, they don’t see the intersection.”
On NextDoor, a man commenting on the death of Freddie Harwell dubbed FM 32 the “highway to heaven.”
After MyCanyonLake.com shared one of Harwell’s unnerving accident videos on Facebook March 20, a reader commented:
“I have to turn left out of here every day and it’s terrifying,” one said. “You can’t see very far to the left because there’s a hill. This intersection desperately needs a full four-way traffic light with signs and rumble strips leading up to it.”
In an April 22 email to MyCanyonLake.com, TxDOT Public Information Officer Tanya Brown said “there is a funded operational improvement project in the planning stages.”
Comal County Pct. 4 Commissioner Jen Crownover said a roundabout will go in at the intersection of FM 484 and FM 3424 — but not until 2027. Plans are not finalized.
Shoulder improvements to FM 32 are expected later this year, she said.
Farm-to-market roads are managed by TxDOT, not Comal County.
Brown urges drivers to remain vigilant and exercise caution when approaching any intersection.
“The blinking beacon overhead is specifically designed to increase driver awareness of the intersection and alert them to the presence of cross traffic,” she said in a statement. “The intersecting roads are controlled by stop signs, with through traffic having the right of way…even with signal control, there are instances where some drivers unfortunately fail to stop, potentially leading to crashes.”
TxDOT advocates for increased law-enforcement presence at intersections with frequent violations, she said.
“This can play a significant role in reducing crash incidents.”
(Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 1:50 p.m., May 11, to remove several details of the accident at the request of the Harwell family.)
This article was released without consent of the family and needs to be removed. The reporter is unprofessional and completely irresponsible of her.
Hi Robert, I spoke with bereaved family members this morning who corrected details of Vicki Harwell’s injuries and at their request, agreed to remove the image of the truck, which was provided by another family member. All other information in the story is accurate. This is a legitimate news story and we will not remove it from the site.
Let the record state, that the “bereaved family members” did not in fact give permission for this story and have asked that it be removed. Furthermore, details were not “corrected” by the family (which is why you removed information from the original article, not corrected it) we only stated that the information in this article was incorrect and asked that it be removed. You heartlessly denied and continue to disregard our request for it’s removal. This article is a complete lack of due diligence on your part. Your reporting lacks tact, empathy and any consideration for our grieving family. Be a better human.
If you are not going to remove the article please remove the photo shown clearly on Facebook still that shows the crash. This horrible photo should not be shared around the world while this family grieves.
Hi Vanessa, we did swap out the image on our site but cannot change what’s already on Facebook.
You know there’s a delete post button, or an edit button. Seriously, don’t act like you didn’t know that was there. Be a professional.
We initially gave you the benefit of the doubt. When you first reported on our uncle’s tragic accident, we assumed you didn’t know the photo and information were provided by someone estranged from the grieving family. Mistakes happen, and the situation was approached with understanding…
But once his wife and children—the people truly devastated by this loss—reached out to you directly, explained how painful the graphic image and personal details were, and asked you to take them down, your response was nothing short of disgusting.
You ignored them. You left up the mangled photo of the truck that took his life. You left in the names. And by doing so, you made a deliberate choice: to double down on causing pain, rather than do the bare minimum to show respect for a grieving family.
This isn’t journalism. It’s exploitation. It’s the kind of behavior that gives your profession a bad name. You were handed an opportunity to act with empathy and integrity, and instead you exposed just how little you care about the actual humans behind the headlines you chase.
Your refusal to remove that story, even after heartfelt pleas, is unprofessional, unethical, and frankly, shameful. You have hurt people who are already suffering an unimaginable loss—not by accident, but by choice.
You should be embarrassed. I certainly am—for you!
32 and 165 are dangerous roads. Blanco and Hays County need more traffic control. I travel both often and every time I get passed up and down hills and going around a corners. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings if 55 mph speed limit was set in place.
Reduce the speed limit to 45 MPH and make the intersection a 4 way stop. That shouldn’t take more than a day.
The Truth
He who without sin can cast the first Stone. I assure you, .the intent was not malicious or meant to be Harmful in anyway . Some of these comments are borderline slanderous.
.A Person can not know what’s in one’s Heart?
I did love my Brother (Lenn) few people called him by that name,the one’s closest to him.
It was a Tragedy that I will live with for the rest of my Life..
Truth
There was never any attempt on my part to use this information for a harmful or malicious act .This was to illustrate FM 32 as a dangerous road. If you are a outsider looking in,chances are ur clueless of the Accidents occurring here . I loved my Brother (Lenn) unconditional. There are maybe 3 People who call him by that name. He who without sin can cast the first stone. I have repeatedly apologized for displaying the Picture,with no response? I thought, I was helping bring attention to things? Lenn,past away close to us,so he will be forever remembered. I loved my Brother and u can’t take that away. You do not know where a Person’s Heart is.In fact you are not even part of this Family ?