Wharton woman dies after being hit by car
Police say stretch of FM 102 where accident occurred has become unsafe
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

A Wharton woman died after being struck by a car while trying to cross FM 102 just south of the U.S. 59 overpass last week.

The police department has identified the victim as Vinnie Odoms, 57, of Wharton.

She was pronounced dead at the scene with Wharton County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Cynthia Kubicek handling the inquest, Wharton Police Detective Ben Evans told the Journal-Spectator.

The collision was called into the police department at 8:22 p.m. Dec. 21 and happened about three minutes before the call was made at 8:19 p.m., according to the police report. The collision took place in the 1900 block of FM 102, near a service station.

A large crowd of onlookers gathered on the edge of 102 near where the accident occurred and watched as paramedics and police processed the scene. Several in the crowd expressed their anguish, saying they knew the victim well.

Firefighters and a state trooper directed traffic around the accident.

Odoms was hit by a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am being driven by Lizabeth Velasquez, 20, of Wharton.

Evans said the driver has not been cited in connection with the collision, but was given a ticket for a traffic violation, driving without a license.

"The car was heading east on 102," Evans said.

"When it got to the Mattie Street intersection, the driver said it felt like she hit something.

"She said she heard the collision, but didn't see anything so she turned around, came back and found she hit a person.

"She's cooperated fully with the investigation."

Odoms' body was sent to the Galveston County Medical Examiner's office for an autopsy as part of the ongoing investigation.

Evans said the autopsy report has not been returned to the city.

"Over the years, that has become a more dangerous area for pedestrian traffic crossing the road," Evans said.

"Traffic has been heavier in the area since the opening of Wal-Mart (on the other side of the overpass.)"