August 2nd, 2026 — 8:18 a.m.
By Martin Hale, Staff Writer

Several roads east of Bellweather have been closed following a series of crashes and reports of pedestrians wandering into traffic.

County Road 6 has been blocked near Miller Road, while state highway patrol officers have established temporary checkpoints along the eastern county line. Drivers approaching Bellweather from the east are being turned around without explanation.

Sheriff Daniel Mercer said deteriorating weather and poor visibility may have contributed to several accidents, but witnesses described conditions as clear when the first collision occurred.

Leon Pike, a truck driver from Weller County, said he stopped after seeing a state trooper lying beside a patrol car near the old cemetery turnoff.

“I thought somebody had hit him,” Pike said. “I got out, and that trooper stood up before I reached him. There was blood all down the front of his uniform. He looked straight through me like I wasn’t even there.”

Pike said another driver attempted to help the injured trooper and was attacked.

“He grabbed that man and bit him,” Pike said. “I know how that sounds. I know exactly how that sounds, but that is what happened.”

Highway patrol officials would not comment on Pike’s account.

Residents near Saint Agnes Cemetery have reported unusual activity throughout the evening. Several callers described people moving between the trees and along the roadside. One resident said the figures appeared injured and did not respond when spoken to.

The sheriff’s department has advised residents not to approach anyone behaving erratically. Doors should be locked, outdoor lights should remain on and all suspicious activity should be reported immediately.

Telephone service has become unreliable in parts of eastern Bellweather County. Emergency dispatchers are asking callers to remain on the line and avoid repeated calls regarding the same incident.

Authorities continue to insist that the situation remains under control.