From
the KMIL News Room
|
| Thanksgiving Accident Claims 6th Victim | ||||||||||
| Death toll jumps to 21 on Milam County Roadways in 2000. | ||||||||||
 (CAMERON) A
Thanksgiving Day tragedy has claimed 6 lives here in Milam County. A
Buckholts man and a Cameron man were killed, and a woman from Cove
Springs, Texas watched the accident unfold that also killed her parents
and 5 year old child. In what is being termed the worst traffic
accident in Milam County history, 5 people were pronounced dead at the
scene. A 15 year old girl died a day later at Scott & White
Hospital in Temple. Three others were hurt, one critically.
The accident happened just east of Pettibone along the deadly stretch of
Highway 36 that has now claimed 13 lives this year
alone.
Killed in the accident were Joel Martinez, 19 of Buckholts, and his back seat passenger Jose Reyes, 26 of Cameron. Also pronounced dead at the scene, 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. Dying the following day at Scott & White was LaKeshia Chapman 15 of Cove Springs. Others Injured in the wreck... a front seat passenger in the Martinez vehicle, Julio Hernandez 21 of Cameron. He is reported in stable condition at Scott & White Hospital in Temple. And two other back seat passengers in the Bryant vehicle...Terrell Franks, age 5 of Cleveland was critically injured, and LasQueshia Hadnot, 15 of Cleveland is in stable condition.
According to investigating 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 Bryants' 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; and Linsey Fairchild age 17 both of Cleveland. No one in the Mustang was hurt.
Trooper Nix said the accident occurred during a period of light rain listed alcohol as a probable factor. Two Medivac units were called to the scene, one of which landed on the highway, however heavy rain prohibited any transports by the helicopters and all victims were transported by ground. Nix said no rear seat belts were worn in the Taurus, and no seat belts were worn in the back seat of the Bryant vehicle. The accident happened around 7:15 p.m. Thanksgiving Day a mile east of Pettibone. The wreck took more than 3 hours to clear. Traffic was backed up for several miles in both directions with some motorists detouring around the wreck via a county road. 2000 will go down as possibly the most deadly year in history for Milam County motorists. Thursday'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. 3 people were killed in a grinding head on collision on Highway 36 just west of Pettibone on April 25th. (See story) On April 28th, a Sweetwater man was killed in a fiery head on collision involving two 18 wheelers 3 miles west of Cameron. (See story) Then on May 29th, two people were killed in a head on collision 2.4 miles west of Buckholts. (See story) And on August 17th, a Houston woman as killed when she slammed into an 18 wheeler that was attempting a u-turn.
Comments or suggestions?
|
