The daughter of Mike Gilroy, the city’s former mayor, died in a
motorcycle accident on a Texas highway Sunday night.
The daughter of Mike Gilroy, the city’s former mayor, died in a motorcycle accident on a Texas highway Sunday night.
The former mayor confirmed the tragedy Monday, saying that his daughter, Denise Williams, died when a pick-up truck plowed into a car from behind that was making a left turn in the highway’s fast lane. That collision sent the car careening into the slow lane where Denise, 48, and her husband, Mitch Williams, 44, were riding separate motorcycles.
She died instantly, according to news reports. Her husband was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
She is the mother of twin sons, 2001 Gilroy High School alumni Chris and Tim Henderson. Chris Henderson lives in Gilroy with his wife Kristen and their 2-month-old daughter Adlin. Tim Henderson lives with his wife, Elise, in Georgia and they have a 4-year-old daughter, Paige. Tim is on active duty in the U.S. Air Force, and Chris is a former marine.
The four-vehicle wreck that occurred in Blanco County left three travelers injured, causing traffic to back up for several miles in both directions of U.S. 281 and delaying traffic for about three hours.
Officials say the accident was called in just before 6 p.m. Sunday. Cheryl Hoggard, 45, of Spring Branch was driving a Toyota station wagon on southbound U.S. 281. She was stopped to turn left when her car was struck from behind by a Dodge pickup, according to news reports.
“The truck was heading southbound and apparently did not realize that the car was stopped in the traffic lane and crashed into it from behind,” said Trooper Erich Neumann of the Department of Public Safety in Johnson City.
There have been “several crashes in the area from the same sort of thing” because no left turn lane exists and drivers often fail to notice vehicles stopped in front of them, Neumann said.
“There is a history of accidents happening in the area,” he added. “But they’re not usually this severe.”
Authorities said Hoggard’s car was pushed into the northbound lanes, where it struck Denise. Her husband was on another motorcycle and was able to avoid the collision, but still lost control and struck a tree, reports state.
Denise was pronounced dead on the scene, while Mitch was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Both were wearing helmets, according to reports.
Denise was a resident of Pflugerville, Texas. She and Mitch had visited with her father and his wife, Pat, that day and were heading home when the accident occurred.
Mike Gilroy is the great-great-grandson of John Cameron Gilroy, for whom the city is named. He was first elected to the Gilroy City Council in November 1991, then again in November of 1995, serving a total of six years. After the mayor’s seat was vacated by then Mayor Don Gage, Gilroy ran for mayor in 1997 during his second term as councilman.
