New details released in investigation of head-on crash that killed Fort Worth CEO, 2 kids

The only person to leave their SUV alive after a head-on collision, the wife of a Fort Worth executive and mother of their two children who were killed on the day before Thanksgiving is doing remarkably well.

Lauren Muckleroy is out of the ICU at the Austin hospital where she was taken by helicopter after the wreck in Blanco County in Central Texas.

The family of four were on their way to visit Lauren’s relatives in Johnson City when a pickup truck crossed solid double yellow lines into the southbound lanes of a highway and hit the Muckleroys’ Chevrolet SUV, authorities said.

Lauren is confronting why and how she survived when her husband and children did not, according to a post written by her sister Melanie Dow on caringbridge.org.

Zach Muckleroy, 44, CEO of Muckleroy & Falls construction company, and the couple’s two children — son Judson, 12, and daughter Lindsay, 9 — died in the collision on Nov. 22.

“She knows that Judson’s birthday party was supposed to be on Sunday,” Dow wrote. “She knows about the beautiful vigils that have taken place in Fort Worth and we have shown her a few pictures and shared with her a few stories from all of those.

“She acknowledged yesterday that she knows that this is all going to get a lot harder for her emotionally,” Dow wrote.

No memorial service has been scheduled. “We are waiting for Lauren to get strong enough so her wishes could be honored,” said the Rev. Russ Peterman, of Fort Worth’s University Christian Church, where a vigil was held on Friday.

When he had lunch or attended TCU basketball games with Zach, his friend was often greeted by others, Peterman said.

“Everybody knew Zach, and Zach knew everybody,” he said.

Zach Muckleroy was this year chair of the church’s elders and was respected in its congregation.

“He was a man of integrity. Deep integrity,” Peterman said.

The SUV and pickup truck collided about 7:15 p.m. on U.S. 281 near mile marker 460 in Blanco County, near Round Mountain and Johnson City, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety preliminary report on the agency’s investigation.

A man driving a Toyota Tacoma was traveling northbound on U.S. 281. For reasons not known, the Toyota crossed the solid double yellow lines into the southbound lanes of the highway and hit the Chevrolet SUV driven by Lauren Muckleroy, according to the report.

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A Nissan Versa occupied by a female driver was headed south following the Muckleroy family’s SUV, and the initial collision caused the Nissan to hit the Chevrolet and roll, the report says.

Zach Muckleroy and the children were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Toyota, whose name has not been released, died after he was taken to a hospital.

The driver of the Nissan was treated and released.

The investigation is ongoing.

Zach Muckleroy, a Fort Worth native, graduated from TCU with a degree in accounting and finance with a real estate concentration, according to his company’s website. He walked onto the TCU football team in 1998, the year the Horned Frogs won the Sun Bowl.

Zach joined the family business in 2009 and took over as CEO of Muckleroy & Falls in 2020. His father, Harold Muckleroy, founded the company more than 40 years ago.

In an interview posted on the company’s website, Zach said, “I have always loved building and constructing things dating back to Lincoln Logs and Legos when I was a kid. I believe you have to have passion and excitement in what you do. I am also a relationship centric person. In this industry you are continuously meeting new people and forging new relationships. The growth of these relationships is a constant reminder of just how small this world really is.”

Lindsay attended Tanglewood Elementary School and Judson was formerly a student at the Fort Worth school, according to friends’ posts on social media.

“Waking up to know that your entire family is lost, I just can’t imagine,” Peterman said of Lauren Muckleroy.

In a post on X, former Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, who is friends with Zach’s parents, Harold and Pat, said, “My heart breaks for the Muckleroy family following the loss of Zach & his two beautiful children. Tom & I ask that you join us in prayer to uplift the entire Muckleroy family, especially his wife Lauren, as she recovers from the accident & grieves the loss of her beloved family. Our community lost an incredible husband, father, son, friend — and above all, servant leader.”

In a statement Monday, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Steve Montgomery wrote, “We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Zach Muckleroy and his children. Our thoughts and prayers for peace are with the Muckleroy family, as well as their friends and colleagues, during this time of sorrow.

“As the CEO of Muckleroy & Falls, Zach was a significant figure in Fort Worth’s business community and an active member of the Chamber,” Montgomery said. “His contributions were vital to the economic development of Fort Worth. This tragedy serves as a reminder of the preciousness of family and the importance of cherishing life’s moments.”