(THORNDALE) A Bartlett man was killed in a vehicle/motorcycle accident around 4 p.m. Saturday on FM 1331 about 6 miles north of Thorndale. Pronounced dead at the scene was the driver of the motorcycle, 24 year old James Matthew Randig. The driver of the 2001 Ford pickup, Howard Wayne Kelm of Coupland, was not hurt.
According to investigating Trooper David Yarbrough, Kelm was traveling west on FM 1331 and Randig was eastbound when Kelm attempted a left turn on CR 439, turning in front of the motorcycle. The motorcycle struck the pickup in the right front panel, and Randig was ejected from the motorcycle. He was not wearing a helmet. The motorcycle caught fire after the collision, and spread to the pickup. Randig was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace O. C. “Chip” Dunsmoor, and his body was taken to Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale.
Trooper Yarbrough was assisted by Trooper Jimmy Morgan, The Milam County Sheriff’s Department, Thorndale Police and Thorndale Firemen.
Randig is Milam County’s 12th traffic fatality of 2005.