A 22-year-old Saratoga man was killed Friday night, Aug. 21, when his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck on SH 105 in Moss Hill.
The crash occurred around 9:07 p.m. at the intersection of SH 105 and CR 2075, according to Sgt. Rob Willoughby, supervisor of the Liberty County office of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Lamar Shelton Bear, 22, was traveling westbound on SH 105 on a 2025 Yamaha sport motorcycle when a 2016 Dodge Ram pickup traveling eastbound attempted to turn north onto CR 2075.
According to the preliminary investigation, the pickup turned into the path of the motorcycle, which struck the left front portion of the truck, including an aftermarket steel bumper. The impact ejected Bear from the motorcycle and into a roadside ditch.
Bear was pronounced dead at the scene by Liberty County Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Cody Parrish. Willoughby said Bear died on impact.
According to Willoughby, Bear was an employee of the Walmart store in Liberty.
The driver of the pickup, identified as Walter Scott Whalin Jr., 19, of Moss Hill, was not seriously injured.
Willoughby said the pickup failed to yield the right of way. Investigators also believe the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed. DPS is continuing to investigate the circumstances and contributing factors in the crash.
Trooper Adam Setterbo is the investigating trooper. He was assisted at the scene by Willoughby, Trooper Dearesi Thaggard and Cpl. Thomas Thurston. Thurston, a member of the district’s crash team, deployed a drone as part of the investigation.
The investigation remains ongoing.