Three people were killed in two separate accidents in Brown County Monday evening, according to Texas Department of Public Safety officials.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the first accident, a one-vehicle rollover, occurred shortly after 7 p.m. near Brookesmith on County Road 213.  The driver was transported to Brownwood Regional Medical Center where they later passed away.  The cause of the accident and the driver’s identity have not been released at this time.

An elderly couple in their 80s were killed in the second accident, a head-on collision, at approximately 8:15 p.m. just outside of Early, according to Texas DPS Trooper Chris Delgado.  The accident occurred in the 5500 block of Hwy 183 South, near the railroad trestle near County Road 312.

Delgado reported that the elderly male and female were traveling northwest (inbound toward Early) in a white Ford pickup in the inside lane as the roadway narrowed to two lanes to pass through the railroad trestle.  For some unknown reason, the Ford veered into the lane of oncoming traffic, striking a 1-ton black dually pickup directly head-on, according to Delgado.

The dually pickup had four occupants who survived the accident and were transported to Brownwood Regional Medical Center for evaluation and treatment of their injuries. Delgado reported that the driver of the dually was world champion bull rider J.W. Harris of Mullin, Texas along with his wife and two small children.  All of the Harris family were reported to have non-life-threatening injuries.

Delgado said that DPS is not releasing the names of the deceased couple at this time.

Texas DPS, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Early Police Department, Early Volunteer Fire Department and Lifeguard Ambulance responded to the scene of the accident.