April 4, 2016 - Update: Damian Bolton, of Center, was also involved in a crash involving a pickup truck he was driving and a cow in the road, see related story here: Pickup Truck Collides with Cow on U.S. 96 South
April 4, 2016 - A major crash resulted from cattle in the roadway on April 2, 2016 resulting in a large quantity of diesel fuel spilling and U.S. Highway 96 South being blocked.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos April 2, 2016 at 8:40pm the Center Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department, Center Fire Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety were dispatched to U.S. Highway 96 at CR 2205 in reference to a major crash.
Upon arrival it was found a 2011 white Peterbilt driven by Sesario Gonzales, Jr., 56, and owned by Pilot Thomas Logistics out of Oklahoma City transporting diesel fuel was traveling southbound on U.S. 96 in the area where a cow had been previously struck by an unknown vehicle. The Peterbilt struck the cow and swerved to the left causing the truck to overturn and begin sliding.
The truck was towing a polar tank trailer with diesel fuel inside. As it was sliding southbound into the northbound U.S. 96 lanes, a tan 2013 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Amy Honey, 28, of Zavalla with her 64-year-old grandmother, 6-year-old boy, and 10-year-old boy, struck the roof of the cab of the Peterbilt trapping the driver inside. The vehicle came to rest with a large quantity; however, unknown amount, of diesel fuel spilling.
Center Fire Department performed the extrication of the driver from the Peterbilt with Jaws of Life, and was assisted by many of the emergency personnel in this endeavor. Jason Burch, with Hughes Wrecker Service, attached a winch to the underbelly of the truck to provide stability while Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Pete Davis, assisted by firemen and Trooper Ramos, attached the winch from his patrol truck to the rear of the Equinox.
Gonzales was extracted out of the vehicle and was taken by life flight to LSU Hospital in Shreveport where he is reported as being in stable condition. Honey and her passengers were all transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for unknown injuries and were released.
There were two deceased cattle on scene and the owner was located and determined to be W.C. Thompson of Center.
No citations have been issued at this time.
East Texas Towing and Storage removed the Equinox from the scene. Hopkins Towing & Recovery were dispatched to the scene with three large wreckers to handle the wrecked 18-wheeler. They stationed two large trucks in the southbound traffic lane side of the highway and righted the 18-wheeler. Once it was back on its wheels, the third truck hooked to the Peterbilt to haul it away.
As of Sunday night, April 3, 2016 a hazardous material crew was still removing diesel fuel from the area and are expected to continue working to clean the area during the coming week.
Related article: Pickup Truck Collides with Cow on U.S. 96 South
