Denison, TX — December 1, 2022, pedestrians Kenneth and Sammy Sutherland were struck and killed by a vehicle while crossing U.S. Highway 75 in Denison.

Authorities say the incident happened around 8:00 p.m. on southbound US-75 near Farm to Market Road 691. Preliminary investigation suggests Kenneth Sutherland, 75, and Sammy Sutherland, 74, were crossing through the southbound lanes on foot when they were hit by a passing vehicle. After the collision the driver remained at the scene and cooperated with police.

Both Sutherlands were pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing. No further information is available at this time.

Commentary on Kenneth and Sammy Sutherland Accident in Denison

It's not exactly clear yet what happened, but given its clearly-tragic aftermath I hope most would agree that a full and careful investigation is in order. Learning how and why two people lost their lives should be a priority, and yet because the victims were pedestrians I wonder just how much police attention their situation will really get.

That's not to knock law enforcement's hard work, but in many cases waiting for their report to tell the story doesn't work out as well as it should. Between competing priorities, limited staff and resources, and only so much time in the day, officers must sometimes rush through their investigations. When that happens crucial details and context may be overlooked, resulting in incomplete or even wrong reports. Those can create a major hurdle for anyone seeking answers or help down the road.

Maybe that won't be an issue here, but from long experience I know that "pedestrians on the highway" often leads people (police sometimes among them) to make premature assumptions about fault. However, the people who lost two loved ones here deserve to know every effort was made to learn all the facts. If there's anything else to do besides bring them the truth, knowing that will depend on what the truth turns out to be.