2 killed in unrelated Arlington wrecks

Police are investigating two unrelated fatal crashes early Wednesday in which speed and alcohol appear to be factors, said Sgt. Paul Rodriguez, an Arlington police spokesman.

The first crash involved a motorcyclist who, according to witnesses, was driving at an “unsafe” speed on westbound Interstate 30 near East Lamar Boulevard about midnight Tuesday, Rodriguez said in a news release.

Frederick Tucker, 46, of Arlington was pronounced dead at 12:55 a.m. Wednesday at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office.

Tucker struck a disabled vehicle on the outside shoulder, causing a chain reaction with two other vehicles, Rodriguez said.

The other drivers were not injured, he said.

The second crash occurred at 2:10 a.m. when an unidentifed person driving south in the 1200 block of South Davis Drive turned left to go east on Benge Drive and struck a curb on the south side of the intersection, Rodriguez said.

The vehicle collided with a guy wire of a telephone pole and “came to rest between the telephone pole and second vehicle,” Rodriguez said. The driver was ejected, he said.

Investigators believe that alcohol was a factor, he said.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner’s office will identify the driver once relatives have been notified. — Monica S. Nagy

This story was originally published October 7, 2015 at 9:36 PM with the headline "2 killed in unrelated Arlington wrecks."