Saturday Wreck Claims Life of Cameron Woman

(CAMERON)  A two vehicle accident claimed another life on Highway 36 west of Cameron Saturday, 87 year old Gertrude Whittington was killed shortly after 12:30 p.m.  Whittington becomes the 8th traffic fatality on Milam County roads this year.

According to DPS reports, Whittington was traveling FM 845, when she stopped at the stop sign at the Highway 36 intersection, then proceeded into the highway, where her '99 model Chevrolet S-10 pickup was struck on the driver's side by an 18-wheeler, driven by Keith Allen Wade, of Belton.  Following the collision, the S-10 pickup came to rest in the north side ditch.  The 18 wheeler slid off the roadway and overturned in the north side ditch.  Investigating Trooper, David Yarborough said Whittington was not wearing a seat belt, while her passenger, 54 year old, Hudson Lee Pharris was.  Pharris was transported to Scott & White Hospital in Temple by Medivac, where he was treated and released.  Wade, the driver of the 18-wheeler was not hurt.  It took most of the afternoon for crews to clear the wreck scene.  Whittington was ejected from her truck on impact.  She was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Chip Dunsmoor.  Assisting at the scene, were Cameron Volunteer Firemen, Scott & White EMS, Milam County Sheriff's Deputies and Cameron police.

Whittington's 99 Chevrolet S-10 was struck broadside in Saturday's fatal accident

After impact, the tractor trailer landed on it's side north of the ditch on Highway 36, near the Cameron VFW Hall.  The driver of the 18-wheeler was not hurt.