Weatherford Couple Dies In Crash Near TMS

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - A couple from Weatherford died late Friday night when their motorcycle slid into a tractor trailer cab. The crash happened just before 10:00 p.m. along FM-156, just a few miles down the road from the Texas Motor Speedway.

"The tractor decided to make a u-turn on FM-156," explained Sgt. Pedro Criado with the Fort Worth Police Department. The married couple on the motorcycle, identified as 58-year-old Mark Meyer and 57-year-old Holly Meyer, collided with the turning truck. "Their brakes locked up as they tried to avoid the tractor, and slid into him."

Police are still not sure if the couple had been attending Friday night's race at the Texas Motor Speedway. But with an estimated 200,000 NASCAR fans congregating in North Texas this weekend, many engaging in heavy drinking, authorities have stressed the importance of safety on the roads.

Traffic flow in Tarrant County is at a peak with the Texas Motor Speedway races throughout the weekend. Police in Fort Worth are encouraging everyone to exercise caution on the roadways. And now, especially after Friday night's crash, race fans are taking safety seriously. "It does cross my mind, but you have to be very alert and be cautious and be patient," said race fan Sharon, "and watch what you're doing."

"We've already talked about," said NASCAR fan Jarvis Tate. "We're going to stay here for about two hours after the race is over, so it's a little easier, a little smoother, a little safer getting out of here."

Race fan Mason Neal has the opposite plan. "We're probably going to leave a little bit early, just to beat the traffic," he said.

The Fort Worth Police Department is prepared for the traffic situation over the rest of the weekend, with a detailed plan for directing vehicles around the track. So far, authorities said, no other crashes or problems have been reported in the immediate area.