KMIL LOCAL NEWS
Year 2000 Deaths
FATAL MILAM COUNTY ACCIDENT--JAN 3 PM
(ROSEBUD) MILAM COUNTY RECORDED IT'S FIRST TRAFFIC FATALITY OF THE YEAR 2000 MONDAY. 79 YEAR OLD RUDOLPH HELPERT OF BURLINGTON DIED AT SCOTT AND WHITE HOSPITAL IN TEMPLE FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN A ONE VEHICLE ROLLOVER ON U.S. 77 NORTH OF CAMERON JUST INSIDE THE MILAM COUNTY LINE. ACCORDING TO DPS, HELPERT WAS NORTHBOUND ON 77 IN HIS 95 FORD PICKUP, WHEN HE RAN OFF THE ROAD, AND ROLLED TWO TIMES. THE DPS SAID HELPERT WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT. THE WRECK OCCURRED AT 10:50 AM MONDAY. FUNERAL SERVICES ARE PENDING WITH COOK GERNGROSS GREEN PATTERSON FUNERAL HOME IN ROSEBUD.
FATALITY--MAR 1 AM
(SAN GABRIEL) MILAM COUNTY RECORDED IT'S 2ND TRAFFIC FATALITY OF THE YEAR TUESDAY, THE RESULT OF A ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON FARM ROAD 486 NORTH OF THORNDALE AT THE SAN GABRIEL RIVER. PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE BY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE TWILA HARRIS WAS 43 YEAR OLD MILBOURNE LOUIS BENNETT OF ROUND ROCK. ACCORDING TO DPS, BENNETT WAS DRIVING NORTH ON FM 486 IN A FORD ECONOLINE VAN WHEN THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND INTO A DITCH. WHEN BENNETT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT BACK ONTO THE ROADWAY, THE VAN STRUCK A BRIDGE GUARDRAIL, TRAVELED ABOUT 100 FEET DOWN THE GUARDRAIL AND THEN FELL OFF THE BRIDGE INTO A CREEK LANDING ON IT'S TOPSIDE. BENNETT WAS WEARING A SEATBELT. HIS BODY WAS TAKEN TO PHILLIPS AND LUCKEY FUNERAL HOME IN ROCKDALE.
THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED AROUND 2:30 TUESDAY AFTERNOON. HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD BY JUDGE HARRIS AT 2:49 PM. THORNDALE AND ROCKDALE FIRE AND EMS UNITS RESPONDED. TROOPERS ERNEST DEL BOSQUE AND DON WARDLAW INVESTIGATED.
MILAM COUNTY'S FIRST YEAR 2000 FATALITY HAD BEEN REPORTED AS AN ELDERLY ROCKDALE MAN, ANDREW JENKINS, WHO DIED ON JANUARY 31ST FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT A WEEK EARLIER NEAR MINERVA. HOWEVER, IT WAS DETERMINED JENKINS DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES, UNRELATED TO THE WRECK. MILAM COUNTY ROADS HAVE CLAIMED AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 8 LIVES A YEAR SINCE 1996. IN THAT YEAR 9 PEOPLE WERE KILLED. IN 97, 7 LOST THEIR LIVES. IN 98, 10 PEOPLE DIED IN MILAM COUNTY TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, AND LAST YEAR, 9 PEOPLE WERE KILLED.
STRUCTURE FIRE KILLS ROCKDALE MAN--APR 23 AM
A STRUCTURE FIRE ON COUNTY ROAD 429A THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF A ROCKDALE AREA MAN. TIMOTHY SULAK, 42 WAS SLEEPING IN THE TRAVEL TRAILER WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE ON THE FAMILY FARM. SULAK WAS RESTING IN THE TRAILER WHILE HIS SON AND A SON'S FRIEND WERE RIDING 4-WHEELERS. THE SON SAID HE HEARD A POP, AND A FEW MINUTES LATER NOTICED THE TRAILER ENGULFED IN FLAMES. AN INVESTIGATOR WITH THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE AND SHERIFF CHARLIE WEST CONDUCTED AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION OF THE FIRE MONDAY. WEST TOLD KMIL NEWS TODAY THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE REMAINS UNCERTAIN, BUT NO FOWL PLAY IS EXPECTED. HE SAID ONE POSSIBILITY OF THE FIRE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE TRAILER, WHICH HAD NO UTILITIES CONNECTED, BUT DID HAVE DC CIRCUITS THROUGHOUT THE TRAILER. MEANWHILE, PRELIMINARY AUTOPSY REPORTS HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED BY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE CHIP DUNSMORE AS OF NOON TODAY.
(CAMERON) A CAMERON MAN AND TWO BUCKHOLTS RESIDENTS WERE KILLED IN A GRINDING HEAD ON COLLISION ON HIGHWAY 36 JUST WEST OF PETTIBONE LAST NIGHT. PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE WAS 81 YEAR OLD JAMES JONES OF CAMERON, AND WALTER FORD 44, AND ELSIE HORLICA (HOSE-LICK) 32 BOTH OF BUCKHOLTS.
ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATING TROOPER JIMMY MORGAN, JONES WAS EASTBOUND IN A 99 DODGE PICKUP WHEN HE DRIFTED INTO THE EASTBOUND LANE STRIKING THE 77 FORD PICKUP DRIVEN BY FORD, HEAD ON. ALL THREE WERE KILLED INSTANTLY UPON IMPACT. JONES WAS EJECTED FROM HIS PICKUP WHICH THEN FLIPPED AND ROLLED OFF A CONCRETE EMBANKMENT INTO A DEEP DITCH. THE BODIES OF BOTH FORD AND HORLICA WERE PULLED FROM THEIR VEHICLE. NO ONE INVOLVED WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS.
A WITNESS TO THE WRECK TOLD KMIL NEWS AT THE SCENE LAST NIGHT THAT JONES HAD PASSED HER ON THE CURVE JUST EAST OF BUCKHOLTS, AND WAS DRIVING SOMEWHAT ERRATIC. SHE THEN SAID JONES DRIFTED INTO THE WEST BOUND LANE AND WITHOUT BRAKING, STRUCK THE FORD PICKUP HEAD ON.
ALL 3 VICTIMS WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE BY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE CHIP DUNSMORE, AND ALL THREE BODIES WERE TAKEN TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY MORGUE FOR AUTOPSIES. THE HIGHWAY WAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN FOR TWO HOURS LAST NIGHT AS TRAFFIC WAS RE-ROUTED DOWN A COUNTY ROAD AND ONTO FM 485 BACK TO HIGHWAY 36 AT PETTIBONE.
ALL 3 VICTIMS WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE BY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE CHIP DUNSMORE, AND ALL THREE BODIES WERE TAKEN TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY MORGUE FOR AUTOPSIES.
LAST NIGHT'S FATALITIES WERE THE 3RD 4TH AND 5TH FOR MILAM COUNTY THIS YEAR, AND THE COUNTY'S WORST ACCIDENT SINCE 3 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 7 INJURED IN A 3 VEHICLE HEAD ON COLLISION NEAR MAYSFIELD IN MARCH OF 1998. IN THAT YEAR A TOTAL OF 10 PEOPLE DIED IN MILAM COUNTY TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. LAST YEAR 9 PEOPLE WERE KILLED.
(CAMERON) HIGHWAY 36 CLAIMED IT'S FOURTH VICTIM OF THE WEEK FRIDAY WHEN A SWEETWATER MAN WAS KILLED IN A FIERY COLLISION 3 MILES WEST OF CAMERON. DYING AT THE SCENE WAS 43 YEAR OLD REFUGIO SANCHEZ. 3 DRIVERS AND FOUR VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN THE WRECK JUST AFTER 6 AM FRIDAY. SANCHEZ WAS DRIVING A FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR LOADED WITH SHEETROCK. OTHERS DRIVERS WERE WILLIAM CARROLL, 30 OF BRYAN, DRIVING A KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR WITH AN EMPTY DUMP BED. AND TIMOTHY GAMBLE, 23 OF KILLEEN, DRIVING A 96 FORD F 350 PICKUP, AND TOWING A 99 FORD F350. ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATING TROOPER MICHAEL NIX, GAMBLE WAS WESTBOUND IN THE PICKUP WHEN HE CROSSED THE CENTER STRIP AND STRUCK THE EASTBOUND 18 WHEELER DRIVEN BY SANCHEZ, WHO THEN TRAVELED ACROSS THE WESTBOUND LANE AND INTO THE WESTBOUND BAR DITCH. CAROLL, TRAVELING WEST ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT, TRAVELING INTO THE BAR DITCH WHERE THE TWO 18 WHEELERS COLLIDED AND ERUPTED IN FLAMES. GAMBLE WAS TAKEN BY SCOTT AND WHITE EMS TO CENTRAL TEXAS HOSPITAL WHILE CARROLL WAS TRANSPORTED BY PRIVATE AUTO. BOTH WERE TREATED AND RELEASED. SANCHEZ WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 8;10 AM BY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE CHIP DUNSMORE. CAMERON VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTERS SEARCHED THE RUBBLE FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR BEFORE LOCATED SANCHEZ UNDERNEATH A PILE OF SHEETROCK THAT HAD FALLEN FROM THE TRAILER.
HIGHWAY 36 WAS CLOSED UNTIL 2 PM AS CLEAN UP EFFORTS AND THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUED. NIX WAS ASSISTED BY THE DPS LICENSE AND WEIGHTS TEAM OUT OF BELL COUNTY, THE MILAM COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPT, CAMERON POLICE AND THE CAMERON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT.
SANCHEZ WAS THE FOURTH FATALITY IN AS MANY DAYS ON THE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY 36 BETWEEN CAMERON AND BUCKHOLTS. 3 AREA RESIDENTS WERE KILLED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION TUESDAY NIGHT SIX MILES WEST OF CAMERON. PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE WERE JAMES JONES OF CAMERON, AND WALTER FORD AND ELSA HORLICA BOTH OF BUCKHOLTS.
SANCHEZ IS THE SIXTH TRAFFIC FATALITY FOR MILAM COUNTY THIS YEAR. IN ADDITION TO THE THREE TUESDAY, A ROUND ROCK MAN WAS KILLED IN FEBRUARY ON FARM ROAD 486 NEAR SAN GABRIEL.
ACCIDENT--MAY 14 AM
(CAMERON) A CARROLTON TEENAGER WAS KILLED AND WOMAN SERIOUSLY HURT IN AN AUTO/TRAIN ACCIDENT FRIDAY NIGHT WEST OF CAMERON. 14-YEAR OLD ASHLY BASS WAS EJECTED FROM THE 1995 CHEVY LUMINA DRIVEN BY DIANA PRUITT BASS, 41. FRIDAY'S WRECK WAS THE THIRD FATAL ACCIDENT CLAIMING FIVE LIVES IN JUST THREE WEEKS ALONG THE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY 36 BETWEEN CAMERON AND BUCKHOLTS. ACCORDING TO TROOPER ERNEST DEL BOSQUE, MS. BASS WAS TRAVELING EAST ON HIGHWAY 36 NEAR PETTIBONE WHEN SHE TURNED SOUTH ONTO COUNTY ROAD 206 AND WAS STRUCK BY AN EAST BOUND BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE TRAIN. THE COLLISION THREW THE CAR OFF THE TRACKS EJECTING ASHLEY BASS. SHE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD BY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE MARTIN HOBBS. DIANA BASS WAS TAKEN TO SCOTT AND WHITE HOSPITAL IN TEMPLE WHERE SHE IS BEING TREATED FOR NUMEROUS BROKEN BONES AND INTERNAL INJURIES. DEL BOSQUE SAID BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. TWO CAMERON FIRE DEPARTMENT UNITS AND CAMERON'S SCOTT AND WHITE EMS RESPONDED AROUND 9:45 PM FRIDAY.
FRIDAY'S FATALITY BRINGS MILAM COUNTY'S TRAFFIC DEATH TOLL TO 7 THIS YEAR. FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN TWO SEPARATE HIGHWAY 36 ACCIDENTS THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL. AND A ROUND ROCK MAN WAS KILLED IN FEBRUARY NEAR SAN GABRIEL.
WRECK--MAY 18 NOON
(ROCKDALE) THE YEAR 2000 IS PROVING TO BE A DEADLY YEAR ON MILAM COUNTY ROADWAYS. THE COUNTY RECORDED IT'S 8TH TRAFFIC FATALITY OF THE YEAR TODAY IN AN ACCIDENT JUST AFTER 8:30 THIS MORNING IN ROCKDALE. 45 YEAR OLD ROLANDO JOE RUBIO, A SELF EMPLOYED CONCRETE CONTRACTOR, DIED AT RICHARDS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOLLOWING THE WRECK THIS MORNING IN FRONT OF TACO LOCO AT 619 EAST CAMERON IN ROCKDALE. RUBIO WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESS PARALLEL TO EAST CAMERON WHEN AN 18 WHEELER DRIVEN BY THOMAS PARKER OF SEGUIN, SWERVED OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK RUBIO AS HE OPENED HIS CAR DOOR. AFTER HITTING RUBIO, THE TRUCK BROKE A UTILITY POLE AND THEN HIT A SMALL TREE. POWER AND TELEPHONE SERVICE WAS KNOCKED OUT ALONG EAST CAMERON. WITNESSES SAID RUBIO WAS PINNED BETWEEN THE TRUCK AND TEH POLE AND THEN THROWN SOME 50 FEET BY THE IMPACT. SGT EVANS OF THE ROCKDALE POLICE DEPT IS HEADING THE INVESTIGATION. OFFICER JOHN BROWN, TROOPER MICHAEL NIX, AND LICENSE AND WEIGHTS TROOPER JOHN CRUDDAS ASSISTED EVANS IN THE INVESTIGATION.
THURSDAY'S FATALITY IS THE FIRST FOR THE YEAR IN THE ROCKDALE CITY LIMITS AND THE 7TH FOR MILAM COUNTY. THE COUNTY HAS AVERAGED JUST OVER 9 DEATHS A YEAR SINCE 1994.WRECK--MAY 18 NOON
(CAMERON) TWO MORE PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND TWO SERIOUSLY HURT IN YET ANOTHER HIGHWAY 36 ACCIDENT MONDAY. TWO PICKUPS COLLIDED HEAD ON AROUND 3 PM 2.4 MILES WEST OF BUCKHOLTS KILLING BOTH DRIVERS. PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE BY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE CHIP DUNSMORE WERE 20 YEAR OLD DAVID MARTINEZ JR., A FORT HOOD SOLDIER, AND MATTHEW TIBBITT II, 50 OF DEER PARK. TWO PASSENGERS IN THE MARTINEZ TRUCK, TADARIAN HARRELL 19 AND JOSHUA DANNER 18 BOTH OF FORT HOOD, WERE AIRLIFTED BY MEDIVAC TO SCOTT AND WHITE HOSPITAL WITH BROKEN BONES. DANNER SUFFERED A BROKEN LEG AND HARRELL A BROKEN ANKLE. BOTH WERE TREATED AND RELEASED.
ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATING TROOPER DON WARDLAW, TIBBITT WAS EASTBOUND IN A 2000 FORD PICKUP, AND MARTINEZ WAS WESTBOUND IN A 97 FORD PICKUP. MARTINEZ ATTEMPTED TO PASS AN 18 WHEELER AND THE TWO PICKUPS COLLIDED IN THE EASTBOUND LANE. TIBBITT'S PICKUP, PULLING A TRAILER, LEFT THE ROADWAY AND OVERTURNED. MARTINEZ'S PICKUP SPUN AND REMAINED IN THE ROADWAY.
HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WAS BLOCKED FOR MORE THAN 2 HOURS FOLLOWING THE WRECK. TROOPER WARDLAW WAS ASSISTED AT THE SCENE BY LICENSE AND WEIGHT TROOPER SCOTT NIX, MILAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, CAMERON AND BUCKHOLTS FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND ROGERS POLICE.
THE BODIES WERE TAKEN TO MAREK BURNS LAYWELL FUNERAL HOME IN CAMERON.
MONDAY'S FATALITIES ARE THE 5TH AND 6TH WITHIN 5 WEEKS ON HIGHWAY 36 BETWEEN CAMERON AND THE WEST MILAM COUNTY LINE. 3 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A GRINDING HEAD ON COLLISION ON HIGHWAY 36 JUST WEST OF PETTIBONE ON APRIL 25TH. PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE OF THAT WRECK WERE 81 YEAR OLD JAMES JONES OF CAMERON AND WALTER FORD, 44 AND ELSA HORLICA 32 BOTH OF BUCKHOLTS. AND ON APRIL 28TH A SWEETWATER MAN, 43 YEAR OLD REFUGIO SANCHEZ, WAS KILLED IN A FIERY HEAD ON COLLISION INVOLVING TWO 18 WHEELERS 3 MILES WEST OF CAMERON. THEN ON MAY 12TH, A CARROLTON TEENAGER, 14 YEAR OLD ASHLEY BASS WAS KILLED IN A CAR/TRAIN ACCIDENT ALONG THE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY JUST EAST OF PETTIBONE.
MONDAY'S FATALITIES ARE THE 9TH AND 10TH OF THE YEAR ON MILAM COUNTY ROADWAYS.
PICTURES AND DETAILS OF THE WRECK ARE AVAILABLE FROM OUR WEBSITE AT KMIL.COM.
TWO KILLED IN AUTO/TRAIN WRECK--JUN 5 AM
(CAMERON) TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED SUNDAY EVENING IN AN AUTO/TRAIN ACCIDENT HERE IN CAMERON. ONE CAMERON AND ONE ROCKDALE RESIDENT WERE KILLED INSTANTLY WHEN THE 1997 FORD RANGER PICKUP THEY WERE IN WAS STRUCK BY AN EASTBOUND BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE COAL TRAIN JUST AFTER 6 PM SUNDAY. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT THE HOUSTON STREET CROSSING BEHIND MILAM GRAIN, HOWEVER THE PICKUP STAYED ON THE TRACKS FOR ALMOST A HALF MILE BEFORE TUMBLING OFF THE TRACKS NEAR THE FIRST STREET CROSSING. NAMES OF THE VICTIMS HAVE STILL NOT BEEN RELEASED BY CAMERON POLICE. BOTH MEN WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 6:35 PM BY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE CHIP DUNSMORE. AND BOTH BODIES WERE TAKEN TO MAREK BURNS LAYWELL FUNERAL HOME IN CAMERON.
SUNDAY'S WRECK WAS THE 3RD MULTIPLE FATALITY ACCIDENT IN MILAM COUNTY THIS YEAR, BRINGING THE COUNTY'S TRAFFIC DEATH TOLL TO 12. SINCE 1994, THE COUNTY HAS AVERAGED JUST OVER 9 DEATHS PER YEAR. SUNDAY'S WRECK WAS ALSO THE SECOND FATAL AUTO/TRAIN ACCIDENT IN THE COUNTY THIS YEAR. A CARROLTON TEENAGER WAS KILLED IN A CAR/TRAIN WRECK NEAR PETTIBONE LAST MONTH.
MILANO STUDENT DROWNS--JUN 6 AM
(MILANO) A MILANO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND STANDOUT ATHLETE DROWNED MONDAY AFTERNOON WHILE ON A CHURCH OUTING AT INKS LAKE. 16 YEAR OLD BRANDON CHAPMAN, AN INCOMING SR. AT MILANO HIGH SCHOOL, DROWNED MONDAY WHILE SWIMMING ACROSS PART OF INKS LAKE WITH FELLOW FRIENDS. ACCORDING TO FRIENDS OF THE FAMILY, CHAPMAN AND 3 OTHER STUDENTS SWAM ACROSS PART OF THE LAKE ON AN AIR MATTRESS. CHAPMAN AND ANOTHER STUDENT JUMPED OFF THE MATTRESS AND TRIED TO SWIM THE LAST 50 YARDS. CHAPMAN APPEARED FATIGUE ABOUT 20 YARDS FROM SHORE, AND WENT UNDER. A CAMP COUNSELOR PULLED CHAPMAN FROM THE WATER AND ADMINISTERED CPR UNTIL PARAMEDICS ARRIVED. HE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A BURNET HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD.
BRANDON WAS AN ACTIVE STUDENT AT MILANO HIGH SCHOOL. A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES, A MEMBER OF THE MILANO HIGH SCHOOL BAND, AND INVOLVED IN A VARIETY OF BOTH ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC EXTRACURRICULAR EVENTS. AS A JR. BRANDON WAS NAMED A MEMBER OF THE CLASS 1A ALL STATE FOOTBALL TEAM, EARNED STATUS AS A STATE TRACK MEET ALTERNATE IN THE 400 METER RUN, PLAYED CENTER FIELD FOR THE BASEBALL TEAM AND WAS AN INTEGRAL MEMBER OF THE TENNIS TEAM. IN 1999, BRANDON RAN ON THE 1600 METER RELAY TEAM WHICH PLACED 5TH IN THE CLASS 1A STATE TRACK MEET.
IN ADDITION, BRANDON EXCELLED IN UIL ACADEMICS AND BAND. DURING THE 2000 UIL DISTRICT COMPETITIONS, BRANDON PLACED FIRST IN TEH READY WRITING CONTEST, 4TH IN MATHEMATICS, AND 5TH IN FEATURE WRITING. AS A BRASS PLAYER FOR THE EAGLE BAND, BRANDON HELPED EARN A DIVISION II RATING FOR THE CONCERT AND SIGHT READING CONTESTS.
IN A STATEMENT RELEASED TODAY, FRIENDS SAID THOSE WHOSE LIVES HE TOUCHED WILL MISS BRANDON, KNOWN AS A CHERISHED FRIEND, AN EVER INSPIRING STUDENT, PROFOUND POET AND SAVED CHRISTIAN.
BRANDON IS THE SON OF RICKY AND ANNETTE CHAPMAN OF MILANO. HE IS ALSO SURVIVED BY A SISTER COURTNEY.
A FUND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TODAY TO HELP THE FAMILY. THE BRANDON CHAPMAN FUND IS ESTABLISHED AT ROCKDALE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION. FOR THOSE WISHING TO CONTRIBUTE, CALL THE CREDIT UNION AT 512 446 2583 OR 1-800-264-5569. MEANWHILE, SERVICES FOR BRANDON HAVE BEEN SET FOR THURSDAY AT 6:30 PM AT THE MILANO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD. PHILLIPS AND LUCKEY OF ROCKDALE IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS FAMILY AND FRIENDS SAID DONATIONS TO THE MEMORIAL FUND WILL BE APPRECIATED.
ACCIDENT ON 1915 --JUL 2 AM
(BUCKHOLTS) A 1-VEHICLE ACCIDENT CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A BARTLETT MAN SATURDAY MORNING ON FM 1915 SOUTH OF BUCKHOLTS. JIM CAMPBELL, 59 OF BARTLETT HAS BECOME MILAM COUNTY'S 13TH TRAFFIC FATALITY OF THE YEAR WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN A ONE VEHICLE ROLLOVER 4.8 MILES SOUTH OF BUCKHOLTS. ACCORDING TO STATE TROOPER MICHAEL NIX, CAMPBELL WAS SOUTHBOUND ON 1915 AROUND 12:30 AM WHEN HIS 1985 SILVER TOYOTA RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAMPBELL THEN SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, CORRECTED BACK TO THE LEFT, AND THEN OVERCORRECTED TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR BEGAN A SIDE SKID AND WENT INTO THE SOUTHBOUND DITCH WHERE IT ROLLED COMING TO REST TOPSIDE WITH CAMPBELL AND HIS PASSENGER TRAPPED INSIDE. NEITHER APPEARED TO BE WEARING A SEAT BELT, AND CAMPBELL WAS KILLED, WHILE HIS PASSENGER, 33-YEAR-OLD TEDDY MOORE, ALSO OF BARTLETT, WAS AIR-LIFTED FROM THE SCENE IN STABLE CONDITION. CAMERON AND BUCKHOLTS FIRE DEPARTMENTS BOTH RESPONDED .THE ACCIDENT WAS INVESTIGATED BY TROOPER MICHAEL NIX. HE WAS ASSISTED AT THE SCENE BY TROOPER ERNEST DEL BOSQUE AND DEPUTY GREG KOUBA.
HIGHWAY 36 CLAIMS ANOTHER LIFE--AUG 18 AM
(CAMERON) HIGHWAY 36 HAS CLAIMED YET ANOTHER LIFE. A HOUSTON WOMAN WAS KILLED LAST NIGHT WHEN SHE RAN INTO THE REAR OF AN 18-WHEELER ATTEMPTING A U-TURN. PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE WAS 37-YEAR OLD REBECCA LYNN MOSER. THE DRIVER OF THE 18-WHEELER, CHARLES DAVID STANGE OF HAMILTON WAS NOT HURT. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED SHORTLY BEFORE 10 LAST NIGHT ON THE CURVE BETWEEN PETTIBONE AND BUCKHOLTS. ACCORDING TO TROOPER DON WARDLOW, BOTH VEHICLE WERE WESTBOUND WHEN STANGE, DRIVING A 92 KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR, ATTEMPTED A U-TURN AND GOT STUCK ON THE SHOULDER. MS. MOSER STRUCK THE REAR OF THE 18-WHEELER, RIPPING THE FRONT BUMPER OFF OF HER 91 BUICK LASABRE, WHICH THEN PIERCED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD STRIKING MS. MOSER. SHE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. CAMERON FIRE RESCUE BUCKHOLTS FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND SCOTT AND WHITE EMS ALL RESPONDED.
2000 WILL GO ON THE BOOKS AS ONE OF THE MOST DEADLY YEARS IN HISTORY FOR MILAM COUNTY MOTORISTS. MS. MOSE IS THE COUNTY'S 14TH TRAFFIC FATALITY AND THE 7TH ON THE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY 36 WEST OF CAMERON.
3 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A GRINDING HEAD ON COLLISION ON HIGHWAY 36 JUST WEST OF PETTIBONE ON APRIL 25TH. PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE OF THAT WRECK WERE 81 YEAR OLD JAMES JONES OF CAMERON AND WALTER FORD, 44 AND ELSA HORLICA 32 BOTH OF BUCKHOLTS. AND ON APRIL 28TH A SWEETWATER MAN, 43 YEAR OLD REFUGIO SANCHEZ, WAS KILLED IN A FIERY HEAD ON COLLISION INVOLVING TWO 18 WHEELERS 3 MILES WEST OF CAMERON. AND ON MAY 29TH, TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION 2.4 MILES WEST OF BUCKHOLTS. PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE WERE 20 YEAR OLD DAVID MARTINEZ JR., A FORT HOOD SOLDIER, AND MATTHEW TIBBITT II, 50 OF DEER PARK. IN ADDITION, A CARROLTON TEENAGER, 14 YEAR OLD ASHLEY BASS WAS KILLED IN A CAR/TRAIN ACCIDENT ALONG THE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY JUST EAST OF PETTIBONE.
BULLDOZER ACCIDENT--SEP 27 AM
(MAYSFIELD) A 63-YEAR OLD CALVERT MAN WAS KILLED TUESDAY AFTERNOON IN A HEAVY EQUIPMENT ACCIDENT. HARRY KERNES WAS KILLED WHILE WORKING IN A GRAVEL PIT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF FARM ROADS 485 AND 979. ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATING DEPUTY JOE RIBAR, KERNES AND HIS SUPERVISOR WERE WORKING ON A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WHEN THE DOZER THROTTLED UP, AND JUMPED INTO REVERSE. KERNES APPARENTLY LOST BALANCE FALLING ON THE TRACK, PULLING HIM BETWEEN THE TRACK AND THE CAB OF THE DOZER. JUSTICE OF THE PEACE MELANIE REED CONDUCTED THE INQUEST AND ORDERED AN AUTOPSY. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED JUST AFTER 3 P.M. TUESDAY.
BUCKHOLTS MAN KILLED IN FREAK ACCIDENT--OCT 2 AM
(BUCKHOLTS) FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD TODAY FOR A 50 YEAR OLD BUCKHOLTS MAN WHO WAS KILLED IN A FREAK FARM ACCIDENT NEAR BUCKHOLTS FRIDAY EVENING. JAMES RAY ZELISKO WAS KILLED WHEN AN AUGER STRUCK HIM AS HE WAS REMOVING THE UNIT FROM HIS TRACTOR. ACCORDING TO DEPUTY LARRY HONEYCUTT, ZELISKO HAD BEEN DIGGING POST HOLES ON HIS FARM ON COUNTY ROAD 104 JUST SOUTHWEST OF BUCKHOLTS, WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS ARE THAT ZELISKO HAD RAISED THE AUGER UP TO DISCONNECT IT FROM HIS TRACTOR, HOWEVER EXTENSION ON THE BASE OF THE AUGER STUCK IN THE GROUND AND WHEN ZELISKO MOVED HIS TRACTOR FORWARD, THE AUGER WAS THRUST FORWARD STRIKING ZELISKO IN THE TRACTOR'S SEAT. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 7 P.M. FRIDAY. JUSTICE OF THE PEACE CHIP DUNSMORE PRONOUNCED ZELISKO DEAD AT THE SCENE, AND HIS BODY WAS TAKEN TO MAREK-BURNS-LAYWELL FUNERAL HOME IN CAMERON.
S.O. INVESTIGATING DEATH--OCT 4 AM
(BUCKHOLTS) A BUCKHOLTS MAN APPARENTLY DISTRAUGHT OVER HIS BROTHER'S DEATH LAST WEEK, HAS COMMITTED SUICIDE. JERRY ZELISKO WAS FOUND EARLY TODAY BY A THIRD BROTHER AFTER HE FAILED TO RETURN HOME FROM A FISHING TRIP ON LITTLE RIVER LAST NIGHT. HE WAS DEAD FROM A SINGLE GUN SHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD FROM A 357 HANDGUN. JERRY'S BROTHER JAMES, DIED FRIDAY EVENING IN A FARM ACCIDENT WHEN A POST HOLE DIGGER FELL ON TOP OF HIM WHILE HE WAS DISENGAGING THE UNIT FROM HIS TRACTOR.
THE MILAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT RECEIVED THE CALL AROUND 5:50 THIS MORNING FROM JOHN ZELISKO WHO DISCOVERED THE BODY AFTER FAMILY REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT COME HOME FROM A FISHING TRIP LAST NIGHT. JUSTICE OF THE PEACE CHIP DUNSMORE CONDUCTED THE INQUEST AT THE SCENE THIS MORNING AND ORDERED THE BODY SENT TO DALLAS FOR AN AUTOPSY. DEPUTY GREG KOUBA IS INVESTIGATING. MEANWHILE, FUNERAL SERVICES ARE PENDING WITH MAREK-BURNS-LAYWELL FUNERAL HOME IN CAMERON.
TRAGIC WRECK KILLS 3 AND INJURES TWO FROM CAMERON. OCT 30 AM
(AUSTIN) A CAMERON MAN AND TWO OF HIS GRANDCHILDREN WERE AMONG FIVE PEOPLE KILLED WHEN THE FAMILY'S MOTOR HOME WAS STRUCK HEAD-ON BY 2000 LINCOLN SATURDAY NEAR THE CALDWELL/TRAVIS COUNTY LINE. PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE WAS GARY BRINKLEY 59, OF 502 EAST 13TH HERE IN CAMERON. HIS 3 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER LILLIAN AVILA, AND HIS 2 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER, CARMEN AVILA, BOTH OF RT. 3 CAMERON WERE ALSO DEAD AT THE SCENE. BRINKLEY'S WIFE, ROSALIND BRINKLEY, 57, SUFFERED 3RD DEGREE BURNS OVER 50 PERCENT OF HER BODY, AND IS IN EXTREME CRITICAL CONDITION THIS MORNING AT BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO. ANOTHER GRANDDAUGHTER, 10 YEAR OLD MEGAN CONNOLLY, WAS TREATED AND RELEASED FROM BRACKENRIDGE HOSPITAL IN AUSTIN. MRS. BRINKLEY WAS FLOWN FROM THE SCENE BY HELICOPTER TO BRACKENRIDGE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS STABILIZED AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER. ALSO PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE WERE THE OCCUPANTS OF THE LINCOLN, 76 YEAR OLD DONALD H. WALTON AND HIS WIFE BETH OF SAN ANTONIO.
ACCORDING TO DPS REPORTS, THE BRINKLEY'S WERE WESTBOUND ON TEXAS 21 WHEN WALTON'S EASTBOUND LINCOLN DRIFTED INTO THE WESTBOUND LANE STRIKING THE MOTOR HOME HEAD-ON. THE COLLISION WAS SO FORCEFUL THAT THE MOTOR HOME FLIPPED ONTO ITS SIDE, AND THE GAS TANK ERUPTED, SPREADING BURNING FUEL ALONG THE WINDING 2-LANE ROAD, AND ENGULFING THE VEHICLE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR BRINKLEY, AND HIS TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS ARE PENDING WITH MAREK-BURNS-LAYWELL FUNERAL HOME IN CAMERON.
SATURDAY'S WRECK WAS THE THIRD FATAL HEAD-ON COLLISION ALONG THE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY 21 SINCE OCTOBER 8TH RAISING THE DEATH TOLL FOR THE HIGHWAY, TO 10 IN LESS THAN A MONTH, AND AT LEAST 14 FOR THE YEAR.
SUICIDE--OCT 31 AM
(SAN GABRIEL) A 62 YEAR OLD PASADENA MAN WAS FOUND DEAD MONDAY AFTERNOON, AFTER HE APPARENTLY HANGED HIMSELF AT HIS DECEASED PARENTS FARM 6 MILES NORTH OF THORNDALE ON FARM ROAD 486. BILLY JOE MCDANIEL WAS DISCOVERED BY HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW AROUND 5:20 P.M. MONDAY AT THE WALTER MCDANIEL FARM. AUTHORITIES BELIEVE MCDANIEL HAD BEEN DEAD FOR ABOUT 12 HOURS. ACCORDING TO THE MILAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, MCDANIEL CAME TO STAY AT THE FARM LAST WEDNESDAY. HIS SISTER SAID SHE LAST SPOKE TO MCDANIEL SUNDAY WHEN HE LEFT HER RESIDENCE TO RETURN TO THE FARM HOUSE. MCDANIEL WAS SUPPOSEDLY GOING TO CALL HIS WIFE AND PACK HIS BELONGINGS AND RETURN TO PASADENA ON MONDAY.
PCT 4 JUSTICE OF THE PEACE MARTIN HOBBS CONDUCTED THE INQUEST, AND MCDANIEL'S BODY WAS TAKEN TO PHILLIPS AND LUCKEY FUNERAL HOME IN ROCKDALE. DEPUTY KELLI WILLIAMS IS HEADING THE INVESTIGATION ASSISTED BY SHERIFF CHARLIE WEST AND DEPUTY JOE RIBAR.
CRASH KILLS TWO CAMERON AREA RESIDENTS--NOV 5 AM
(MAPLE VALLEY) A FIERY HEAD-ON COLLISION BETWEEN TWO 18 WHEELERS IN MAPLE VALLEY, WASHINGTON LATE SUNDAY, CLAIMED THE LIVES OF TWO CAMERON AREA RESIDENTS. 21 YEAR OLD JESSICA LYNN BROGGER OF CAMERON, AND WILLIAM LLOYD MAULDIN, JR. 26 OF ROGERS WERE KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT THAT ALSO CLAIMED THE LIFE OF THE OTHER DRIVER. THE CRASH OCCURRED ON HIGHWAY 18 AT MAPLE VALLEY, NEAR SEATTLE, ON A STRETCH OF ROADWAY THAT IS OFTEN CALLED WASHINGTON'S MOST DANGEROUS HIGHWAY. THE BIG RIGS RAN HEAD ON AS THEY PASSED BENEATH AN OVERPASS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT A HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE. BOTH TRUCKS CAUGHT FIRE. THE LOCAL TRUCK DRIVER, WAS DRIVING A TRUCK OWNED BY THE WILLIS SHAW TRUCKING COMPANY OF ARKANSAS. THE OTHER TRUCK, WHICH INVESTIGATORS NOW THINK WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS A SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE WHEN IT SLAMMED INTO THE TRUCK FROM ARKANSAS, WAS OWNED BY GORTEN TRUCKING COMPANY OF AUBURN. THE COLLISION DAMAGED THE OVERPASS, CAUSING THE STATE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO SHUT DOWN THE HIGHWAY THROUGH LAST NIGHT AFTER THE COLLISION AND FIRE DAMAGED TEMPORARY SUPPORTS ON THE BRIDGE.
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR BROGGER AND MAULDIN ARE PENDING WITH GREEN-PATTERSON FUNERAL HOME IN CAMERON. A STORY COMPLETE WITH A MAPLE VALLEY TELEVISION VIDEO REPORT, WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM OUR WEBSITE LATER THIS MORNING AT KMIL.COM.
(CAMERON) TWO CAMERON TEENS CLING TO LIFE TODAY FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT HERE IN CAMERON LAST NIGHT THAT KILLED ANOTHER TEEN. PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE WAS 18 YEAR OLD JERRY SCOTT PROCTOR. AIRLIFTED TO SCOTT AND WHITE BY TWO MEDIVAC UNITS WERE J.J. URBAN, AND HIS COUSIN STEPHANIE URBAN, BOTH 18 OF CAMERON. THEY ARE BOTH LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION AS OF NOON TODAY WITH HEAD AND INTERNAL INJURIES.. ONE OTHER PASSENGER, LARRY NEIGHBORS OF CAMERON, WAS TREATED AND RELEASED.
ACCORDING TO CAMERON POLICE, J.J. URBAN WAS DRIVING THE 2000 CAMERO CONVERTIBLE AT AN EXCESSIVE SPEED, HEADED SOUTH ON 2269, WHEN HE FAILED TO NEGOTIATE THE CURVE PRIOR TO THE HIGHWAY 36 INTERSECTION. THE CAMERO LEFT THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO THE APARTMENTS. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO TWO APARTMENT UNITS, ONE OF WHICH WAS OCCUPIED, HOWEVER NO ONE IN THE APARTMENT WAS INJURED.
OFFICERS WILL ANDERSON, TERRY DRUMMOND AND CHRIS STRINGER INVESTIGATED THE WRECK. CAMERON FIRE AND EMS RESPONDED ALONG WITH TWO MEDIVAC UNITS. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED JUST AFTER 10:30 LAST NIGHT.
PROCTOR IS THE 15TH TRAFFIC FATALITY OF THE YEAR ON MILAM COUNTY ROADWAYS.
FOR MORE ON LAST NIGHT'S ACCIDENT, LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE AT KMIL.COM.
6 KILLED, 3 INJURED--NOV 23 AM
(CAMERON) A THANKSGIVING DAY TRAGEDY HERE IN MILAM COUNTY HAS CLAIMED IT'S SIXTH VICTIM. 15 YEAR OLD LAKESHIA CHAPMAN OF COVE SPRINGS WAS TAKEN TO A SCOTT & WHITE HOSPITAL FOLLOWING THE WRECK WHERE SHE DIED A DAY LATER. 5 OTHERS WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE JUST EAST OF PETTIBONE, IN WHAT IS BEING TERMED MILAM COUNTY'S WORST EVER TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. ALSO KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT WERE JOE MARTINEZ, 19 OF BUCKHOLTS, AND HIS BACK SEAT PASSENGER JOSE REYES, 26 OF CAMERON. ALSO PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE WERE ROYAL BRYANT, 64 AND HIS WIFE ARTHURINE BRYANT AGE 59, BOTH OF CLEVELAND, TEXAS. AND THEIR 5 YEAR OLD GRANDSON CLIFFORD HILL OF COVE SPRINGS, TEXAS. INJURED IN THE WRECK WAS A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IN THE MARTINEZ VEHICLE, JULIO HERNANDEZ, 21 OF CAMERON. HE WAS TREATED FOR ARM FRACTURES AT SCOTT AND WHITE HOSPITAL IN TEMPLE AND THEN RELEASED. 2 OTHER BACK SEAT PASSENGERS IN THE BRYANT VEHICLE WERE HURT. TERRELL FRANKS, AGE 5 OF CLEVELAND WAS TRANSPORTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION AND HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO STABLE CONDITION WITH A HEAD INJURY. AND LASQUESHIA HADNOT, 15 OF CLEVELAND WAS TRANSPORTED IN STABLE CONDITION AND UNDERWENT SURGERY FOR A BROKEN PELVIS.
ACCORDING TO TROOPER MICHAEL NIX, THE 96 FORD TAURUS DRIVEN BY MARTINEZ, WAS WESTBOUND ON HIGHWAY 36 WHEN IT CROSSED THE CENTER STRIPE, STRIKING THE 92 LINCOLN DRIVEN BY ROYAL BRYANT. NIX SAID THE TWO VEHICLES COLLIDED LEFT HEAD LIGHT TO LEFT HEAD LIGHT. A THIRD VEHICLE, A 2000 MUSTANG DRIVEN BY THE BRYANT'S DAUGHTER SANDRA LOVE, 32 OF COVE SPRINGS, WAS TRAILING THE BRYANT LINCOLN, AND SKIDDED 160 FEET BEFORE STRIKING THE MARTINEZ VEHICLE. PASSENGERS IN HER CAR WERE CHARLES BRYANT, 35 OF CLEVELAND. AERAVEON CHAPMAN, AGE 8, AND 3 YEAR OLD MIKALA LOVE BOTH OF COVE SPRINGS. ANTHONY FRANKS, AGE 8 OF CLEVELAND. AND LINSEY FAIRCHILD 17 OF CLEVELAND. NO ONE IN THE MUSTANG WAS HURT.
TROOPER NIX SAID THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A PERIOD OF LIGHT RAIN AND SAID ALCOHOL IS A PROBABLE FACTOR IN THE WRECK. TWO MEDIVAC UNITS WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE, ONE OF WHICH LANDED ON THE HIGHWAY, HOWEVER HEAVY RAIN PROHIBITED ANY TRANSPORTS BY MEDIVAC AND ALL VICTIMS WERE TRANSPORTED BY GROUND. NIX SAID NO REAR SEAT BELTS WERE WORN IN THE TAURUS. AND NO SEAT BELTS WERE WORN BY THE KIDS IN THE LINCOLN.
THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 7:15 P.M. THANKSGIVING DAY AS THE BRYANT'S WERE HEADED HOME AFTER A THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH FAMILY IN KILLEEN. THE WRECK TOOK MORE THAN 3 HOURS TO CLEAR. TRAFFIC WAS BACKED UP FOR SEVERAL MILES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, WITH SOME MOTORISTS DETOURED AROUND THE WRECK VIA A COUNTY ROAD.
TROOPER NIX WAS ASSISTED AT THE SCENE BY TROOPER ERNEST DEL BOSQUE, TROOPER JONATHAN HUNTER OF FRANKLIN, SHERIFF CHARLIE WEST, DEPUTIES JOE RIBAR, GREG KOUBA AND KELLY WILLIAMS, ONE UNIT OF THE ROGERS POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS FROM CAMERON AND BUCKHOLTS.
2000 WILL GO ON THE BOOKS AS ONE OF THE MOST DEADLY YEARS IN HISTORY FOR MILAM COUNTY MOTORISTS. THURSDAY NIGHT'S FATALITIES BRING MILAM COUNTY'S DEATH TOLL FOR 2000 TO 21. 13 OF THE 21 DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED ON HIGHWAY 36 BETWEEN CAMERON AND THE BELL COUNTY LINE. FOR MORE, LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KMIL.COM.
ANOTHER LIFE WAS TAKEN IN AN ACCIDENT THIS MORNING AT 8:45 AT THE INTERSECTION OF 22ND STREET AND TRAVIS IN CAMERON. EBONY LORMAINE KING, 18 OF CAMERON, BECAME MILAM COUNTY'S TWENTY SECOND TRAFFIC FATALITY OF THE YEAR 2000 WHEN HER VEHICLE WAS STRUCK THIS MORNING BY A TRUCK AT THE INTERSECTION. ACCORDING TO OFFICER DON WHITELEY, MRS. KING WAS HEADING WEST ON 22ND STREET AND FAILED TO YIELD AT THE CAUTION LIGHTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF TRAVIS. HER CAR, A 1980 CHEVY CAPRICE 4-DOOR WAS BROADSIDED BY A 1999 FORD PICKUP TRUCK; DRIVEN BY BRUCE E. HALL, 44, OF ROCKDALE. MR. HALL WAS TAKEN TO CENTRAL TEXAS HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES. ALSO TAKEN TO CENTRAL TEXAS HOSPITAL WAS KEANU MCCARTER AN 11 MONTH OLD CHILD WHO WAS A PASSENGER IN THE KING VEHICLE. CAMERON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMS BOTH RESPONDED. OFFICER DON WHITELEY INVESTIGATED, ALSO INVESTIGATING WERE TROOPER NIX, AND OFFICER DOSKOCIL. LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KMIL.COM FOR PICTURES FROM THIS MORNINGS ACCIDENT.
KING IS THE 2ND 18 YEAR OLD CAMERON RESIDENT KILLED IN ACCIDENTS HERE IN CAMERON OVER THE PAST 4 WEEKS. JERRY SCOTT PROCTOR WAS KILLED NOVEMBER 16TH WHEN THE CAR HE WAS A PASSENGER IN, SLAMMED INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF WEST FOURTH AND FM 2269 IN CAMERON.
KING IS ALSO THE 4TH PERSON KILLED HERE IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY THIS YEAR. IN ADDITION TO PROCTOR, TWO MEN WERE KILLED IN A TRUCK TRAIN ACCIDENT JUNE 4TH ON THE EAST FIRST STREET CROSSING.
FATALITY WRECK--DEC 19 AM
(MILANO) THE DECAPITATED BODY OF A MAN PULLED FROM WRECKAGE OF MONDAY'S HEAD ON COLLISION SOUTH OF MILANO HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE WAS 21 YEAR OLD KEVIN ALLEN TAYLOR OF HOUSTON.
23 PEOPLE HAVE NOW DIED IN 14 FATAL ACCIDENTS HERE IN MILAM COUNTY THIS YEAR. THE COUNTY'S AVERAGE DEATH TOLL PER YEAR SINCE 1994 HAS BEEN JUST OVER 9.
TAYLOR'S 91 HONDA COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH AN 18 WHEELER 3.6 MILES SOUTH OF MILANO ON HIGHWAY 36 WHEN HE FAILED TO NEGOTIATE A CURVE AND CROSSED THE CENTER STRIPE STRIKING A 1984 PETERBILT TRUCK HEAD ON. THE DRIVER OF THE 18 WHEELER, 34 YEAR OLD PAUL DE LA ROSA ELDRETE OF MERKEL, SUFFERED A BROKEN ARM IN THE ACCIDENT.
INVESTIGATING TROOPER ERNEST DEL BOSQUE PLACED THE TIME OF THE WRECK AT 11:05 P.M. ROCKDALE AND MILANO FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND SCOTT AND WHITE EMS OUT OF ROCKDALE RESPONDED.
FIRE--DEC 25 AM
(BLACK JACK) SUNDAY WAS A TRAGIC CHRISTMAS EVE FOR A BLACK JACK FAMILY. TWO CHILDREN WERE KILLED AND THEIR MOTHER SEVERELY BURNED IN A HOUSE FIRE IN THE BLACK JACK COMMUNITY NEAR THE MILAM/BURLESON COUNTY LINE. THE SUE HOLT RESIDENCE WAS DESTROYED IN THE BLAZE THAT KILLED HER GRANDCHILDREN, 6-YEAR OLD SARAH BIRD, AND 7-YEAR OLD DARWIN CHARLES BIRD. TAKEN TO RICHARD'S MEMORIAL WERE MS. HOLT, KATHY BIRD, THE CHILDREN'S MOTHER, AND HER 4-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ELIZABETH. KATHY WAS TRANSPORTED TO SCOTT AND WHITE HOSPITAL IN TEMPLE WHERE SHE REMAINS TODAY WITH THIRD DEGREE BURNS ON HER BACK AND FEET. MS. HOLT SUFFERED A BURN TO HER ARM. THE CHILDREN'S 16 YEAR OLD SISTER SAMANTHA WAS NOT HOME WITH THE FIRE BROKE OUT SHORTLY BEFORE 4 A.M. STATE FIRE MARSHALL HARRY BOWERS HAS BEEN CALLED TO INVESTIGATE. INITIAL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE FIRE STARTED ON THE BACK PORCH AREA OF THE HOUSE.
DONATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED FOR FOOD, CLOTHING, CASH, TOYS, OR HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS. CLOTHING SIZES NEEDED INCLUDE:
FOR 5 YEAR OLD ELIZABETH, SIZE 6X OR 7 WITH CHILD'S SIZE 13 SHOES.
FOR SAMANTHA, SIZE 12-14 OR LARGE
FOR KATHY, SHIRT SIZE 3X OR 4X. SHOE SIZE IS UNKNOWN.
AND FOR SUE HOLT, SHIRT SIZE 22. PANTS 18-20. AND SHOE SIZE 10.
DONATIONS CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT THE MILAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HERE IN CAMERON, THE ROCKDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WAL-MART IN ROCKDALE OR BY MURRAY STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST IN ROCKDALE.
WRECK --DEC 27 AM
(MILANO) MILAM COUNTY ROADWAYS CLAIMED THEIR 24TH LIFE TUESDAY MORNING AT AROUND 9:45 WHEN A ROCKDALE MAN WAS KILLED IN A NEAR HEAD-ON COLLISION ON HIGHWAY 36 FOUR MILES SOUTH OF MILANO. 29-YEAR-OLD SHANNON TREY ALSTON WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE BY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE TWILA HARRIS AFTER HIS 2001 DODGE TRUCK COLLIDED WITH A NORTH BOUND SEMI-TRACTOR RIG. ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATING TROOPER ERNEST DEL BOSQUE, THE BIG RIG, DRIVEN BY 42-YEAR-OLD RODNEY DWAYNE GADDY OF BRENHAM, HYDROPLANED ON WATER AND CROSSED THE CENTER LINE STRIKING THE SOUTH BOUND TRUCK DRIVEN BY ALSTON. GADDY WAS TRANSPORTED TO ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL IN CALDWELL. DEL BOSQUE WAS ASSISTED AT THE SCENE BY MILAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES KELLI WILLIAMS AND GREG KOUBA. D.P.S. SERGEANT CURTIS WALKER OF BRYAN ALSO ASSISTED AT THE SCENE ALONG WITH LEE COUNTY TROOPER MIKE GRIFFIN AND A LICENSE AND WEIGHT OFFICER FROM BELL COUNTY. MILANO FIRST RESPONDERS AND ROCKDALE FIRE AND EMS PERSONNEL ALSO RESPONDED TO THE CALL.