Two sisters killed in Fort Worth-area crash days before one’s high school graduation
Two Alvarado sisters were killed and their mother was seriously injured Sunday when their SUV was impaled by a bridge railing during a traffic accident, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety report.
One of the sisters, Hannah Underwood, died just days from her graduation from Alvarado High School, her grandmother said Monday.
Also killed in the crash was 17-year-old Hayley Underwood, a junior at Alvarado High School.
Their mother, Barbara Underwood, 39, of Alvarado, was seriously injured in the crash. She remained at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth.
“We were devastated to learn of the tragic car accident,” said Alvarado superintendent Kenneth Estes in a Monday email to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, our students, and the community as we deal with this terrible loss. We have established counseling support services for our students and staff.”
The crash occurred just before 12:30 p.m. Sunday on County Road 604 just south of Happy Trail Road in Johnson County.
A preliminary DPS investigation indicated that Barbara Underwood was driving a 2017 Ford Escape and traveling north on County Road 604 when she approached a bridge.
For an undetermined reason, she lost control of the car, which then veered off and struck the bridge railing.
The front of the vehicle was impaled by the bridge railing before the car stopped.
The sisters were pronounced dead at the scene.
“She was going to graduate on June 5 at the football stadium,” said Jeanne Underwood of Alvarado, referring to Hannah Underwood as she fought back tears on Monday.
Hannah Underwood was on the school’s color guard, and she also planned to attend Hill College then go to the University of North Texas to be become a math teacher.
Younger sister Haley Underwood was a member of the school’s sports medicine team.
An investigation is ongoing, according to DPS officials.
This story was originally published May 25, 2020 at 12:31 PM.
