November 5, 2021 - It was late in the afternoon when Isaac Simmons got the call. A vehicle was broken down along a stretch of I-45 in Fairfield, and Simmons, a 35-year-old tow truck driver headed out to help.

While winching the car onto his tow truck, the routine stop suddenly became horrific. A speeding car careened off the road, rolled up the tow truck’s sliding bed and flew through the air. The airborne car slammed into Simmons. Two days later he died, making him one of more than 3,200 people who have been killed on Texas roads so far in 2021.

October 7, 2021 - Pedestrian fatalities are on the rise in the Lufkin District, and TxDOT wants both motorists and pedestrians to be aware of important safety tips that could save a life.

In 2020, pedestrian fatalities totaled two in the nine-county district, one each in Nacogdoches and Houston counties. So far, in 2021, that number has risen to 10 pedestrian fatalities, with Nacogdoches County at six, Polk County at three and San Jacinto County at one.

September 2, 2021 – Texas Transportation Commissioners met Tuesday in Austin and approved more than $1.3 billion in construction projects statewide, with more than $38.3 million approved for the Lufkin District. In addition, maintenance contracts were approved for more than $29 million statewide, with more than $1.4 million approved for the Lufkin District.

School zone lights being activated

August 2, 2021 – School zone flashers are being activated throughout the Lufkin District for the 2021 school year. Drivers are urged to be cautious and alert as they drive through school zones and for buses picking up and delivering students.

July 7, 2021 – Recently released statistics show the number of fatalities from people choosing not to wear a seat belt have risen in the Lufkin District, as well as statewide.

In the Lufkin District, there was a 38-percent increase in fatalities due to unbuckled motorists from 2019 to 2020. In 2019, there were 29 fatal crashes and 51 serious injuries associated with not wearing a seat belt. In 2020, there were 40 fatal crashes and 55 serious injuries associated with not wearing a seat belt. So far in 2021, statistics are trending upward.