On a quiet Saturday evening in Wharton, Texas, the community’s sadness deepened when 62-year-old Sharon Llanes was struck and killed in a pedestrian-auto crash on East Boling Highway. The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on November 8, 2025, in the 500 block of the highway, according to the Wharton Police Department.
When officers arrived, they found Sharon deceased at the scene. The driver, 40-year-old Darelle Baxter of Wharton, called 911 and stayed on scene, cooperating fully with investigators. Field sobriety tests revealed no signs of impairment. A blood-warrant was obtained as standard investigative procedure and toxicology results are still pending.
At this time, the Wharton Police Department has not filed any charges, noting the investigation remains active as evidence and witness statements continue to be gathered.
Those who knew Sharon describe her as someone whose warmth, generosity and quiet compassion touched everyone she met — a friend, neighbor and helping hand in town. Her sudden passing has left a hollow ache among family, friends and the wider Wharton community.
In life, Sharon brought light: simple acts of kindness, a ready smile, and a presence that made others feel valued. Now, as the community mourns, those memories are what people cling to—holding fast to the legacy of how she lived rather than how she left.
As the investigation continues, the focus now is on supporting Sharon’s loved ones and ensuring that the tragic details are thoroughly reviewed. The hope is that through careful inquiry, the circumstances around what happened will be fully understood — even as the city mourns and remembers.
In these hardest of hours, may Sharon rest in peace, and may those who loved her find strength in one another and in the embrace of the community, united in loss and remembrance.
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